Faith – Page 8 – Inspiration for the Mind, Body & Soul

What is Hope

Hope Is The Thing With Feathers

Poem by Emily Dickinson

‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers—
That perches in the soul—
And sings the tune without the words—
And never stops—at all—

And sweetest—in the Gale—is heard—
And sore must be the storm—
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm—

I’ve heard it in the chillest land—
And on the strangest Sea—
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb—of Me.

You should begin each week with renewed hope for what has yet to come. When you open your heart and fill it with hope and infinite possibilities, you invite positivity into your life. And when you surround yourself with uplifting messages and positive people, you pave the way for good things to come your way. So, instead of dreading the Monday ahead, choose to embrace the hidden treasures of tomorrow that have yet to be discovered.

Some Thoughts on Life

What is Life?

Poem by LeKeisha Suggs

What is the purpose of life?
This is a question that many of us ponder.
Is it a journey filled with strife?
Or, a journey full of wonder?

At times, you wish life were like a video game
where you could hit start over.
Other times, you wish you could fast forward
through heartache and pain.
And replay moments of joy when the floodgates open
and you must take cover.
Sometimes, you press play letting life take you
where it will for you stand but to gain.

Then one day you will come to understand
that life waits for no one.
You can sit here fooling yourself
that you have control over the hand you’re dealt.
But you will soon learn, the control you have
over the cards themselves is none.
You must accept that life is not a puzzle to be solved,
rather it is a journey to be felt.

Here’s another original work I created to express my thoughts on life and the journey each of us undertakes. I hope you enjoy and invite you to comment and share your thoughts!!

Moving Forward

Changing Everything

Jane Hirshfield

I was walking again
in the woods,
a yellow light
was sifting all I saw.

Willfully,
with a cold heart,
I took a stick,
lifted it to the opposite side
of the path.

There, I said to myself,
that’s done now.
Brushing one hand against the other,
to clean them
of the tiny fragments of bark.

Throughout life, you will find yourself looking over your shoulder at the path you’ve already traveled. But, what good does this really do? You’re not going that way. So, make the decision to look back one final time and say that’s done now. Then turn around and face forward in the direction you have yet to go in. Choose instead to look forward onto the uncharted waters you have yet to explore. . .because it is what lies ahead of you that truly matters.

Heartprints

By Anonymous

Whatever our hands touch –
We leave fingerprints!
On walls, on furniture
On doorknobs, dishes, books.
There’s no escape.
As we touch we leave our identity.

Wherever I go today
Help me leave heartprints!
Heartprints of compassion
Of understanding and love.

Heartprints of kindness
And genuine concern.
May my heart touch a lonely neighbor
Or a runaway daughter
Or an anxious mother
Or perhaps an aged grandfather.

Send me out today
To leave heartprints.
And if someone should say,
“I felt your touch,”
May they also sense the love
that is deep within my heart.

As I’ve said time and time again, life isn’t about what you get, rather it’s about what you give. And, what gives true meaning to a life is to give and spread as much love in this world as you can. Every time you encounter a new person – whether it be the person standing in front of you at Starbucks or sitting next to you on an airplane – it is an opportunity to leave a heartprint. Strive to create within yourself, the type of person that when you leave the room, others are better off for having been around you. When you create a life full of love, you attract blessings and positive energy.

The Journey

By Mary Oliver

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice–
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do–
determined to save
the only life you could save.

This is a beautiful poem about forging your own path and finding your own voice. Because often in life, we let other people’s voices overshadow our own. It seems that there is always someone – whether it be family, friends, coworkers, stranger in line at Starbucks, etc. – who has an opinion on how you should live your life. In the broad sense, there is nothing wrong with someone giving advice or their opinion on a matter (as long as it isn’t unsolicited. . .ahem. . .), but at the end of the day, it’s Your Life. And, the most important voice is your own. So, don’t let the world silence you. Learn to be a lion and don’t be afraid to Roar!

Be Grateful for Each Day

Each day be thankful for all you have and appreciate the opportunity to live this day.

~ Kate Summers

I believe it is important to take a moment every day and think about at least three things you are grateful for. It can be as simple as saying –

I’m grateful for waking up with my health.
I’m grateful for the loving friends and family that provide their unwavering support without asking for anything in return.
I’m grateful for having reliable transportation to get me to and from work.

The whole point of this exercise is to remind yourself that it is a blessing to wake up each morning and live another day. Nothing in this life is promised. . .tomorrow is not a given. So, even though life isn’t perfect, you have a lot to be appreciative of and you should always strive to focus on the good that surrounds you rather than the bad. Whether you experience the true measure of life depends upon the lens you are viewing it from. The choice is, and always has been, yours. . .

If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking

By Emily Dickinson

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

I believe firmly that life isn’t about what you get, rather life is about what you give. As you go through life, don’t forget to be compassionate and generous. If you can brighten and help better another person’s life, then do it. Your life will have so much more meaning and fulfillment when you share love and kindness with others.

Count Your Blessings

~ Author Unknown

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.

Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.

Count your health instead of your wealth;
Love your neighbor as much as yourself.

This poem is a great reminder to focus on seeing the glass as being half full instead of half empty. It is so easy to focus on the negative and all the bad things that happen every single day. But, it takes a courageous soul to instead see the good in every situation you encounter in life. Always remember that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.

I Believe

I Believe . . .

By: John McLeod

I believe that
nothing in life is unimportant
Every moment
can be a beginning
And a time for decision,
Taken against the constant
background of one’s faith
Each word and gesture –
whether it comes from our
Strength or our weakness
May change the subsequent course
of our life
And the lives of those around us.

Every moment of everyday is important. There is no moment of life that can be categorized as insignificant. The most “insignificant” choice can open the door to new opportunities. So, you should strive to treat each day and every moment as a chance for new beginnings full of infinite possibilities.

The Invitation

By Oriah Mountain Dreamer

It doesn’t interest me
what you do for a living.
I want to know
what you ache for
and if you dare to dream
of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me
how old you are.
I want to know
if you will risk
looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me
what planets are
squaring your moon…
I want to know
if you have touched
the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened
by life’s betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know
if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know
if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you
to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us
to be careful
to be realistic
to remember the limitations
of being human.

It doesn’t interest me
if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear
the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know
if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.”

It doesn’t interest me
to know where you live
or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me
who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me
where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know
what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know
if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like
the company you keep
in the empty moments.

When the cards are stacked against you, will you choose to “show up”? No one person was meant to live a small, bleak life. Every single person is capable of great things and should settle for no less. Whether it be rain or sunshine, you should strive to always “show up” for every moment of your life. You get but one chance at life, so make it count!