Peace

A peace is of the nature of a conquest; for then both parties nobly are subdued, and neither party loser.  ~from King Henry IV, part 2

April 23, 2012  is the would-be 448th birthday (and death day) of the one and only William Shakespeare. He is said to be the Most Quotable Man in history.

A Perfect Peace

Author unknown

There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked and he had to chose between them.

One picture was of a clam lake.  The lake was the perfect mirror for the peaceful towering mountains that were around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell, in which lightening played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.

But when the King looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest.  There in the midst of the angry water sat the mother bird on her nest… perfect peace.

The King chose the second picture.

When asked why the King replied:

“Because,” explained the King, “peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace.”

“I have told you this so that you may have ‘peace’ in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33 (NLT)

I.N.J.

The Legend of Rainbow Crow--A Lenape Story

This is a lesson in self-sacrifice.**Long ago, before the two-legged people walked on the earth, the animal people dwelt together on Turtle Island, and were beset by the Spirit Snow. The Spirit Snow invaded the land, and as it crept across the vast Turtle Island, it became apparent to the animal people that a council must be held, for if not, all would perish on the face of the land. So the animal people held such a council, and Wise Owl called all the animal people together. "We must send a messenger to Kijiamuh Ka'ong, the Creator who Creates by Thinking," said Wise Owl. "He can think the world warm again, and the Spirit Snow will leave us in peace." The animals thought this was a good plan, and so the process to see who would be sent to the Creator began. Wise Owl himself could not go, for he could not see well in the daylight, and it was a long, arduous journey. Coyote was too easily distracted; within a day, he would already have forgotten why he was sent out. Turtle was dependable, but too slow; the world would be engulfed by the time he returned. Finally, Rainbow Crow, the most beautiful bird of all the flying people, who sang the most beautiful of all songs, was sent to Creator. The journey was a harsh and unforgiving one; beyond the tree lines of the forests, and the mountains of the earth, beyond the skies of the world and the sun and the moon, beyond all the stars themselves into the heavens where the Creator dwelt. There, after three days and three nights, Rainbow Crow found the Creator entranced in thought, so much so that he could not get his attention. So Rainbow Crow began to sing. The Song was so beautiful, so artful, and so wonderful that Kijiamuh Ka'ong was drawn away from thinking of what would be. He looked upon the most beautiful of birds, and desired to give him a gift in exchange for the beautiful gift of his song. Rainbow Crow, hopeful, asked for the Spirit Snow to be thought away, so that it would give the animal people peace. "I cannot think the Spirit Snow out of existence," the Creator said, "for it has spirit of its own." Rainbow Crow was crushed. "Then we will all freeze to death," he replied. "You will not freeze," the Creator countered. "For I will think of Fire, something that will warm all living creatures in the cold times." So the Creator took a stick, and stuck it into the sun, and it came ablaze with fire. Giving it to Rainbow Crow, he warned him, telling him to hurry back to the earth before his stick burnt up. Rainbow Crow flew fast and hard to the earth, but the fire took its toll. His feathers became char black, covered with the ash of their forgotten beauty; the smoke of the fire clogged his throat, robbing him of his beautiful song and giving him a rough cough for a cry. When he arrived back on earth, he was nearly unrecognizable, but the fire had just enough of the stick left to be salvaged and used by the animal people. While the animal people celebrated the gift the Creator gave to them, the gift of tindeh, fire, Rainbow Crow sat aside by himself, saddened and depressed. He felt the brush of the wind, and noticedKijiamuh Ka'ong walking towards him."Why are you saddened, Rainbow Crow?" Rainbow Crow explained what the Creator already knew: that the sacrifice of his beautiful plumage and his wonderful voice had left him downtrodden and sorrowful. "Do not be sad, my friend," the Creator comforted him. "The animal people will remember what you did for them forever. When the two-leggeds, the humans, come, they will not hunt for you, for I have made your meat to taste like smoke, and they will never put you in a cage to sing for them." Creator then pointed to Rainbow Crow's feathers. Suddenly, within each one, all the colors of the rainbow seemed to show, though the black was mysteriously visible also. The Creator had put an oil on Rainbow Crow's feathers, He explained, so that "everyone would always remember the sacrifice of Rainbow Crow." And that is why to this day no one eats the crow.

THE STORY OF EDITH BURNS...

Happy Easter! Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns.  When he walked into tha t waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns.  Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you believe about Easter?" Beverly said, "Well, it's all about egg hunts, going to church, and dressing up."  Edith kept pressing her about the real meaning of Easter, and finally led her to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Dr. Phillips said, " Beverly , don't call Edith into the office quite yet. I believe there is another delivery taking place in the waiting room. After being called back in the doctor's office, Edith sat down and when she took a look at the doctor she said, "Dr. Will, why are you so sad? Are you reading your Bible?  Are you praying?" Dr. Phillips said gently, "Edith, I'm the doctor and you're the patient" With a heavy heart he said, "Your lab report came back and it says you have cancer, and Edith, you're not going to live very long." Edith said, "Why Will Phi llips, shame on you. Why are you so sad? Do you think God makes mistakes?  You have just told me I'm going to see my precious Lord Jesus, my husband, and my friends. You have just told me that I am going to celebrate Easter forever, and here you are having difficulty giving me my ticket!" Dr. Phillips thought to himself, "What a magnificent woman this Edith Burns is!" Edith continued coming to Dr. Phillips. Christmas came and the office was closed through January 3rd. On the day the office opened, Edith did not show up.  Later that afternoon, Edith called Dr. Phillips and said she would have to be moving her story to the hospital and said, "Will, I'm very near home, so would you make sure that they put women in here next to me in my room who need to know about Easter." Well, they did just that and women began to come in and share that room with Edith.  Many women were saved. Everybody on that floor from staff to patients were so excited about Edith, that they started calling her Edith Easter; that is everyone except Phyllis Cross, the head nurse. Phyllis made it plain that she wanted nothing to do with Edith because she was a "religious nut". She had been a nurse in an army hospital. She had seen it all and heard it all. She was the original G.I. Jane. She had been married three times, she was hard, cold, and did everything by the book. One morning the two nurses who were to attend to Edith were sick. Edith had the flu and Phyllis Cross had to go in and give her a shot. When she walked in, Edith had a big smile on her face and said, "Phyllis, God loves you and I love you, and I have been praying for you." Phyllis Cross said, "Well, you can quit praying for me, it won't work.. I'm not interested." Edith said, "Well, I will pray and I have asked God not to let me go home until you come into the family." Phyllis Cross said, "Then you will never die because that will never happen," and curtly walked out of the room. Every day Phyllis Cross would walk into the room and Edith would say, "God loves you Phyllis and I love you, and I'm praying for you." One day Phyllis Cross said she was literally drawn to Edith's room like a magnet would draw iron. She sat down on the bed and Edith said, "I'm so glad you have come, because God told me that today is your special day" Phyllis Cross said, "Edith, you have asked everybody here the question, "Do you believe in Easter but you have never asked me." Edith said, "Phyllis, I wanted to many times, but God told me to wait until you asked, and now that you have asked." Edith Burns took her Bible and shared with Phyllis Cross the Easter Story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Edith said, "Phyllis, do you believe in Easter? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is alive and that He wants to live in your heart?" Phyllis Cros s said, "Oh I want to believe that with all of my heart, and I do want Jesus in my life "Right there, Phyllis Cross prayed and invited Jesus Christ into her heart. For the first time Phyllis Cross did not walk out of a hospital room, she was carried out on the wings of angels. Two days later, Phyllis Cross came in and Edith said, "Do you know what day it is?" Phyllis Cross said, "Why Edith, it's Good Friday." Edith said, "Oh, no, for you every day is Easter.  Happy Easter Phyllis!" Two days later, on Easter Sunday, Phyllis Cross came into work, did some of her duties and then went down to the flower shop and got some Easter lilies because she wanted to go up to see Edith and give her some Easter lilies and wish her a Happy Easter. When she walked into Edith's room, Edith was in bed. That big black Bible was on her lap.  Her hands were in that Bible. There was a sweet smile on her face. When Phyllis Cross went to pick up Edith's hand, she realized Edith was dead. Her left hand was on John 14: "In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." Her right hand was on Revelation 21:4, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Phyllis Cross took one look at that dead body, and then lifted her face toward heaven, and with tears streaming down here cheeks, said, "Happy Easter, Edith - Happy Easter!" Phyllis Cross left Edith's body, walked out of the room, and over to a table where two student nurses were sitting. She said, "My name is Phyllis Cross. Do you believe in Easter?" If you believe in Easter, forward this on. God works in wonderful ways, and to believe in his power is to truly be free. If Jesus had e-mail, he'd do the same for you. (Actually, maybe He just did) "Father, bless this person in whatever it is that You know he or she may be needing this day"

Earthly author and source unknown.                                                                                               I.N.J.

More about Spring Cleaning

“Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!”

Psalm 116:2

“Chaplaincy is enabling patients and their loved ones to tell their stories, the telling of which is good for the soul—and the mind and body.”

“Chaplaincy is about discovering the little things that mean a lot to patients and their loved ones.”

“Chaplaincy is about both feet planted responsively amidst the realities and strengths and needs of patients and their loved ones.”

“Chaplaincy, like any meaningful relationship, is about taking the time to respond to human need...”

“Chaplaincy is about helping patients get better not be better.”

“...the bottom line of chaplaincy is not about belief but about caring for patients and their loved ones.”

These are just a few of the things that I do everyday. I call it a calling. You may call it a vocation. For me love is the foundation that God made for me to work from. I have found that in the midst of the pain, sorrow grief, sickness, uncertainty, and weakness that illness brings that I can also do all of those things that are a part of patient and guest satisfaction. As a matter of fact by taking those steps I realize a great deal of personal satisfaction, balancing out my inner and outer persona. I can be a part of the greater organization and still maintain high quality in my specific discipline.

“Pastoral care is about being a witness to the pain and courage of human love.”

“Pastoral care is about being fully present and staying with grieving loved ones—however long their need.”

“Pastoral care is about remembering and saying people’s names—not just about praying for them in another’s name.”

“Pastoral care is about enabling patients to tell their stories, the sharing of which affirms and empowers the teller and often provides wisdom for the listener.”

“Pastoral care is about giving grief the hearing it needs rather than remaining bottled up and beside itself.”

“Pastoral care is about embodying and facilitating and revering kindness.”

These are just a few of the things that I do everyday without having to deliberately think about doing them. I believe that in this case love is the foundation that God made for us all to work from. I would ask each of you to think about these actions that you can take while you are performing your specific role at work, use at home, in Wal Mart, or wherever you are. A little ‘pastoral care’ can go a very long way in speeding someone’s recovery, validating them, to say I care, or give them hope. You can bring these things into you what you are doing and serve your patients and guests to the benefit of them and the greater organization, while bringing a warm and fuzzy feeling to your heart.

Please consider this a spring pep talk from the chaplain. Spring cleaning means throwing out all the frowns, bad vibes, tension, and stress accumulated over the winter and bring in the smiles, great attitudes, serenity, and joy that lie ahead. I love you all and pray for you every day; and, I am here if you need any help with your spring cleaning.

Everything in quotation marks came from "A Hospital Chaplain at the Crossroads of Humanity" written by William E. Alberts, PhD ~Bill Alberts was a hospital chaplain at Boston Medical Center from December 7, 1992 to July 15, 2011, when he retired. Dr. Alberts is a nationally known writer and an occasional contributor to Counterpunch. 

 I.N.J.

Queen Emma edged out by Mary Magdalene for the Lent Madness Halo Award

Excerpts from a lament by the Pacific Commercial Advertiser upon Queen Emma’s death in 1885.

Auwe! Auwe! The bitter wail resounds,
From far Kauai to bold Hawaii’s shore;
The people’s grief and sorry know no bounds,
For their loved Ema-lani is no more.

—Auwe! Auwe! The mourning nation cries;
Auwe! Auwe! She does not heed its grief;
Auwe! No more she wipes the weeping eyes,
No more she gives the sick and poor relief.

The King and lowliest native equal share
The common grief, for each has lost a friend,
And closer draws the bond of sympathy -
The throne and hut unite their tears to blend.

And not alone Hawaiians grieving cry,
The Haoles join in universal moan;
America extends her sympathy,
And England’s Queen will mourn a sister gone..

Kaleleonalani is not dead!
She sleeps on earth, but wakes in Paradise;
Rejoince we then and lift the drooping head,
She is but veiled from our mortal eyes.

And so we leave her sleeping sweet in God.


http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2012/04/05/lent-madness-2012-golden-halo-announced/

Are you distracted from doing what is right?

"The only man I know who behaves sensibly is my tailor; he takes my measurements anew each time he sees me. The rest go on with their old measurements and expect me to fit them." 

~George Bernard Shaw 

The Touchstone

When the great library of Alexandria burned, the story goes, one book was saved. But it was not a valuable book; and so a poor man, who could read a little, bought it for a few coppers. The book wasn't very interesting, but between its pages there was something very interesting indeed. It was a thin strip of vellum on which was written the secret of the "Touchstone"!

The touchstone was a small pebble that could turn any common metal into pure gold. The writing explained that it was lying among thousands and thousands of other pebbles that looked exactly like it. But the secret was this: The real stone would feel warm, while ordinary pebbles are cold.

So the man sold his few belongings, bought some simple supplies, camped on the seashore, and began testing pebbles.

He knew that if he picked up ordinary pebbles and threw them down again because they were cold, he might pick up the same pebble hundreds of times. So, when he felt one that was cold, he threw it into the sea. He spent a whole day doing this but none of them was the touchstone. Yet he went on and on this way. Pick up a pebble. Cold - throw it into the sea. Pick up another. Throw it into the sea.

The days stretched into weeks and the weeks into months. One day, however, about mid afternoon, he picked up a pebble and it was warm. He threw it into the sea before he realized what he had done. He had formed such a strong habit of throwing each pebble into the sea that when the one he wanted came along, he still threw it away.

So it is with opportunity. Unless we are vigilant, it's easy to fail to recognize an opportunity when it is in hand and it's just as easy to throw it away. 

- Author Unknown

“We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, ‘What amazing things the Lord has done for them,’” ~Psalm 126:2

I.N.J

The Difference Between Strength and Courage

The Difference Between Strength and Courage

It takes strength to be firm

It takes courage to be gentle

It takes strength to stand guard

It takes courage to let your guard down

It takes strength to conquer

It takes courage to surrender

It takes strength to be certain

It takes courage to have doubt

It takes strength to fit in

It takes courage to stand out

It takes strength to feel a friend’s pain

It takes courage to feel your own pain

It takes strength to hide feelings

It takes courage to show them

It takes strength to endure abuse

It takes courage to stop it

It takes strength to stand-alone

It takes courage to lean on another

It takes strength to love

It takes courage to be loved

It takes strength to survive

It takes courage to live

Author Unknown

I.N.J.

ELDER MEDITATIONS

"People think other things are more important than prayer, but they are mistaken."

-- Thomas Yellowtail, Crow Nation

 

An Elder once said the most important thing you can do in the course of a day is to pray. If we get up late or oversleep, which is more important? Rush to work without praying or pray first and then go to work? The Elders say it's more important to pray. If we get angry, should we act on our anger or should we pray first? The Elders say it's more important to pray first. If, during the day, we face indecision, what should we do? PRAY. If, during the day, we become irritated or we experience fear, what should we do first? PRAY. The Warrior who prays first will lead a different life from those who pray last.

Great Spirit, teach me to pray first!

http://www.manataka.org/page2573.html

From Manataka American Indian Council's

Smoke Signal News

 

Please visit this site and enjoy the April Edition

INJ