Reblog: The Great Equalizer

Published on August 20, 2012 by lindseybiggsLeave a comment

This is a great blog post from CSMonitor.com to counteract those temptations which say we don’t have enough, or that we will be happy when we have more…

The Great Equalizer

To meet the housing shortage in New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently suggested building thousands of compact (250-300 square feet) apartments. This proposition may lead people to ponder, “Could I be happy living in such a small space?” or perhaps, “How could anyone be happy living in such tight quarters in today’s world?” After all, where would everything fit?

At present, while many boomers are downsizing and dreading the loss of space in which to keep treasured collectibles, other segments of society are anxiously trying to upgrade their lifestyle. With retail ads blitzing us from all sides, we might wonder how much “stuff” is required for proof of success and a satisfying life. Can we ever possess enough?

Reblog: To pass by…or not

Published on August 13, 2012 by lindseybiggsLeave a comment

Photo by DesignNaturale.com

To pass by. . .or not

by Patricia Kadick

Church. Just sitting there. Maybe even enjoying the look of my new sandals when the reading of Jesus’ story caught me. Unexpectedly. The one about those who left the wounded man on the side of that dangerous road. Specifically, the man who didn’t (see Luke Chap. 10).

Sure had read it, heard it, studied it, told it—yet somehow, at that moment, the idea of passing by on the other side pointed right at me… Read more

Repost: Lessons from sunflowers

Published on August 7, 2012 by lindseybiggsLeave a comment

This is a such a beautiful analogy. And a wonderful prayer for our political climate.

Sunflowers’ promise of hope and unity

by Janet Hegarty

When you travel through western Kansas in August, near the town of Goodland, you’ll see huge fields of sunflowers in full bloom. The sudden burst of bright yellow against the green landscape is stunning, but the behavior of the sunflowers is even more impressive. All of the flowers face toward the sun and move together in unity as they follow the sun throughout the day.

Against the backdrop of the current contentious political landscape, the thought of these sunflowers moving together in unity is refreshing. It stimulates hope that there might be a way to move beyond antagonistic, divisive political differences. Granted, the life of a flower is simple compared with the complexities of human existence, but I believe there’s much to learn about how we might establish harmony by considering the sunflower’s activity.

The flowers move in harmony because they are all seeking and finding the good they need from the same source. This is what unifies their actions. Their need for the sun is intrinsic. They naturally follow the sun, and their needs are supplied in the process.

Much political discord today comes from disparate points of view as to how the social and economic life in the United States should be managed. These conflicting ideas have polarized the country. This polarization has been so extreme at times that it has severely slowed the normal effective action of the government. Thinking of the sunflowers has made me wonder if there isn’t a higher source of good we could focus on that might unite us all in progressive activity.

Tag: Mary Baker Eddy