I did not listen to the songs by John Denver during the days he lived his life. Though recently, I've come to understand why so many were moved by his music. He writ and sang with passion and purpose.

There has never been a time on Earth like we see today. What we need are more ways to experience our interconnectedness - it is a precursor to deep love. So in this quickening light, with the dawn of each new day, let us look for love. Let us no longer struggle. Let us ever become who we most want to be. As we begin to be who we truly are, the world will be a better place.

Isn't that all that God asks of me? To be true to Him and do His will.

There's a book I'm reading and in it, this line spoke to me. I've discovered this thought prior in my own recent writings, yet with other literal phrasing. Author James McDonald says it this way.

I don't want an "A" for appearance - I want the real thing in my heart. I don't want to look right - I want to be right.

In further thought, I can undestand the meaning Dr. McDonald may be trying to express, but it must be taken a step further from being 'right' to 'righteous in living'.

Hellen Keller became blind before she was two from illness. In my perspective, her earthly illness became one of humanity's greatest gifts.

Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.

There is nothing wrong with having strength. Perhaps there is nothing wrong with having fear. Maybe it is by having such fear, that we find the greatness of the strength given to us.

Theologian and Bishop Jeremy Taylor bears these thoughts,

Enjoy the blessings of this day, if God sends them; and the evils of it bear patiently and sweetly: for this day only is ours, we are dead to yesterday, and we are not yet born to the morrow.

This passage reminds me to seize the moment and not squander it with worries, doubts or concerns. The day is given as a gift, just as yesterday was. Yesterday's wrappings are now old and the surprise inside unveiled. Why look towards tomorrow, when we've barely begun unwrapping today's. A 'thank you' should be said.

I feel like today is a good day to hear from the Charles M. Schulz character, Charlie Brown. He makes me smile; the innocence, a pure heart of good intentions.

“In the book of life, the answers aren't in the back.”

Too often, I try to find the shortcut. There really isn't one. And if there was and I took it, what would I have learned? What would have been the point?

We need to read the whole book to understand, and then, read it again.

Author Dave Dravecky noted,

I've come to realize that real growth of character takes place in the valleys of life.

The last place I wanted to be was in the valley and to feel the heartache of the descent with blinded sight and an ignorant mind, alone.

However, what is learned in the valley can only be experienced there, in person. That knowledge, that wisdom cannot be felt by reading or contemplation. Nor is the descent ever experienced alone.

Is it written in 2nd Chapter of James, verse 24,

You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

I believe that 'action of faith' is part of the climb. It is an exhilerating adventure that He has always desired His children to experience.

On the morning of this full moon, I return to one of my favorite wise elders, Albert Einstein.

"Only a life lived for others is worth living."

This quote is simple, yet intuitive of our greater life's purpose.

I looked in the mirror today and saw a person screaming to be free! Do something! Change. Make a difference.

The person in the mirror was the 'me' of yesterday. Everything thing that I am today is a culmination of all my yesterdays, but it's not who 'I am'. It's people knowing me from my actions, my words and all the things of the past. And in the blink of my eye I heard a voice tell me, 'Today is a new day to be the person I want you to be.'

It's an opportunity to overwrite the wrongs, begin anew. This today is given to me for a reason. Who am I to squander it. I rejoice and am grateful.

The world was given a glimpse of the holocaust through the eyes of a young girl, named Anne Frank. Her feelings have inspired people of every race and religion. With love, we remember her this day.

The final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands.

He has allowed me to create who I am and what I will be. I hope I am making Him proud.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was taken a decade before my birth. I only know of him through history books. Until now, the only words I had heard him speak were from 'I have a Dream....' In researching this last day and choosing which quote to post, I found this audio track posted at the The King Center. I invite you to listen to him.

I listened to it once, and I felt Dr. King's passion. I listened to it again, and I heard his words. I listened a third time, and I understood.

Recognize, he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That is the new definition of greatness... and everybody can be great, because everybody can serve...
You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love, and you can be that servant.

Dr. King, your passion lives and continues today. Thank you.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired Americans and individuals around the world. He spoke words and took action that brought unity and non-violence with the principle of unconditional love.

"If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so today I still have a dream, the Trumpet of Conscience.”

Dr. King reminds me that beneath this armor is that Trumpet of Conscience, wanting to be played.

This statement from Dr. King hits me especially hard.

“Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”

What he must have went through to overcome the obstacles he faced, and the faith in God he must have had to take that first step. The times and circumstances are different, but the obstacle is the same. The obstacle is not the haters or the bashers, or the unholy triad of the desires of this flesh, worldly powers and the devil's temptations, but the depths of my faith and everlasting belief, to take the first step.

In 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. released a book entitled Strength to Love. It contains sixteen sermons and one essay entitled "Pilgrimage to Nonviolence." The book was one of many which he wrote conveying his beliefs and stance on the conflicts he confronted.

“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”

I find my strength in Truth; to seek it, unveil it, choose it, act upon it, and to believe it in all its humbled glory.

Though spoken many years ago, these words by the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. are still powerfully true today.

“Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.”

I feel this occurs when we allow so-called 'science and logic' to give explained reason for our actions, rather than doing what is unexplainably right.

Dr. King said further,

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

No matter if I am right or wrong, let me speak up and know that I am alive, expressing that which I believe.

I attempted to find just one quote from Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that tugged at my heart this day, but there are several. So this week, we honor Dr. King.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

We live in the darkness because we choose to. Hate because we do not allow ourselves to love, or be loved. Ignorance, nor innocence is an excuse.

“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.”

As much as it pains Him, God gives us a choice. In darkness, there is hate. In light, there is love. Which will you choose?

Author Robert Tamasy wrote,

"If we are to be salt and light in our world, we need to go where the lost are... The Holy Spirit will start working in their lives as they watch ours, and then they will try to figure out why we are different."

It is said, You will know these people by what they do, by their fruits. (Matthew 7:16)

It is amazing to me how we can learn from what we've done, that I too have been lost, and the feeling of the Spirit working in my life, opening my heart and soul.

Over the past year and a half, I have learned from the quotes of so many. I have also learned I am what you call a 'collector', loving to learn and experiencing new 'input' into life. It is a blessing to live in such an abundant world.

Along the path of collecting these quotes, I have developed an appreciation for Albert Einstein. Please allow me to share one of my favorites.

"The search for truth and knowledge is one of the finest attributes of man, though often it is most loudly voiced by those who strive for it the least."

You learn alot about yourself when looking in the mirror, being honest who I am, and when you take time to reflect. I further learned not only that it's important to reflect, but the reasons why. I must thank a friend whom had enough courage and love in her in heart to tell me just that. Thank you.

Each day I use a planner to organize my tasks and prioritize. There's also a quote at the top of each page, though its rare that I find one that I wish to share via this blog. Today's is an exception.

Historical leader, General and American President, George Washington eloquently said,

True friendship is a plant of slow growth and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.

It is then that we discover who we truly are, the friend, myself.

I feel all this thinking about me is selfish. My mistakes, ignorance, regrets, on and on and on. I cannot change past. I am allowing 'me' to get in the way... and I ain't gonna win. He's gonna get me, because it is where I am supposed to be. There is a greater plan than I am can and am meant to understand; my purpose is to act with unconditional trust, guiding faith, His will.

The prophet Hosea says,

"He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; He has injured us, but he will bind up our wounds."

It further draws me to one my favorite CS Lewis passages,

He is not safe, but He is good.

Sometimes I feel it's a moving target. Me. Flip-flopping from reliving the past and what I had planned for the future. My mind a-wandering and me trying to fight my old habits and old-ways of thinking. It's hard to make a change. It's hard to go about your day-to-day. It's exciting and a challenge and scary all at the same time. Maybe because I feel that I'm alone making the change, and although I'm told i have the support of friends, the only person that can make the change, turn it over and surrender it all up, is me.

Today, I turn to American theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr for words that express my thoughts and my request.

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”