June 21, 2011 at 07:52

Weeds & Seeds

I’ve heard people talk about weeds as an undesirable and unwanted presence in their gardens and lawns. They also mention that a weed is really a nuisance, because it crowds out other plants, spreads plant infections, and may have nasty thorns, chemicals harmful to the body, or furry parts that can attach to one’s clothes. But whatever anyone might say about weeds, one thing is certain: a weed thrives almost anywhere, whether it is wanted or not wanted.

This past weekend I returned to my garden after several weeks of heavy rains – and of my being absent from it. I found that indeed the weeds seemed to be quickly multiplying and sending out seeds to produce more weeds. In a couple of spots it appeared as if the weeds might take over parts of my flower beds, if left untended. I was reminded of a couple of quotes about weeds that a friend once shared with me. Unfortunately I don’t recall the exact words, but they went something like this: ‘Weeds are plants that have mastered every possible survival skill, but they have not yet learned how to grow in rows.’ And another: ‘Flowers will die even though we love them. But weeds will grow even though we don’t love them.’

For me, my garden is truly a spiritual place where I can clear away noise, the fast technological world we live in, and the clutter of too much of everything. All of this ‘trivia’ that is part of our modern day living can confuse us and make us not notice what really matters. Like weeds, it can choke us and take over our lives if we are not careful. So paying attention to my garden is a little like attuning myself to life’s opportunities and richness.

In my ‘garden of life,’ I want to cultivate a sense of being present, which means I have to be awake and aware. I can’t just avoid or ignore the distractions that can easily multiply and grow like weeds that choke out the essence of my life.

I’m so grateful for my garden and for the many learnings that I find when I am there.

Beloved Master Gardener, thank you for the lessons we can learn in our gardens. Help us to pay attention in our life’s gardens so the ‘weeds’ of busy-ness, noise, anger, and other distractions do not choke the life from our lives. May we learn to be good gardeners in the garden of life. Amen.

Joy Carol
www.joycarol.com
June 12, 2011 at 11:50

Goodbye, Jo

This past weekend, I drove to Richmond, Virginia to take part in the Memorial Service for my dear friend Jo, who had recently died after a courageous battle with cancer. Although I received a phone call the morning she left this universe, I don’t think it really soaked in that Jo was not going to be in Richmond when I arrived. She had always been there. As I got closer to Richmond, her death became real to me and I felt a deep sense of loss and sorrow.

Our friendship began years ago when I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I told Pastor Kerry at my church that I was terribly afraid and didn’t know what to do. After praying with me, she suggested that I meet Jo, someone she said would be a great support for me. Pastor Kerry was absolutely correct: Jo was not only supportive, she was encouraging and helpful. She quietly stepped into my very shaky life and helped calm me by just being there and by praying with me. Together we planned how I would get through the days ahead as I prepared for the surgery. When my father and sister arrived in Richmond, she was both a compassionate friend and an efficient chauffeur while I was recovering in the hospital.

Over the years our friendship deepened, and we traveled back and forth between New York and Richmond to visit each other, to eat at our favorite restaurants, to walk the beach, to watch DVDs (especially Tootsie and Mrs. Doubtfire), to laugh and cry about life. Jo was truly my special friend.

I was shocked when she called me one day to tell me that she had been diagnosed with a very serious and aggressive cancer. I told her I would be on one of the next flights to Richmond. Over the year and a half of her battle with cancer, I continued to visit Jo, to care for her, to laugh and cry together, and to enjoy whatever time we had left together. Two days before her death, we talked on the phone and made plans for my next visit, which never occurred. Fortunately we ended our conversation by telling each other how much we appreciated and loved one another.

Beloved Friend to all of us, thank you for the gift of special friendships. When we lose them, we ask that you be with us as we grieve our losses. Help our hearts to heal as we feel the pain and sorrow. May we learn to be good friends, like Jo was, to those we meet. Amen.

Joy Carol
www.joycarol.com
June 05, 2011 at 09:15

Iona Dreaming

For years I have dreamed of going to Iona Abbey, located on the Isle of Iona off the West Coast of Scotland. The Abbey is considered to be one of the most historic and venerated religious centers in Western Europe. In 563, St. Columba went from Ireland to Iona with twelve followers and founded a monastery. Iona grew to become an influential center where kings were crowned and buried. The Book of Kells is believed to have been produced there by monks in the ninth century.

Over the centuries the buildings at the Abbey were changed to meet the needs of congregations, pilgrims, and monastic communities. The Abbey was destroyed during the Reformation and restored in 1938. Now it has an active community of people working for peace.

Many people, after they visit Iona, have told me that it feels like one of the ‘thin places’ in the world – a place where heaven and earth touch, where God seems to be more readily present and more easily accessible.

So when I learned that I would have the opportunity to visit Iona with my Irish friend Dermod McCarthy after my trip to Ireland, I was elated – a dream come true. We started our Pilgrimage with great hope. We got as far as Glasgow. While standing on the platform  outside the Glasgow Airport waiting for the train to the city, the wind was very powerful and we felt as if we could be blown away. I asked  a woman standing beside me if this was normal. She said, “Not at all. It’s been an unusually strong wind reaching 80-90 miles per hour.” When I told her we were on the way to Iona, she closed her eyes and dropped her head, ‘Oh, my,’ she said, ‘I doubt you will get there as the ferries probably aren’t running.’ Whoops!

On the train ride into the city, the newspaper headlines leapt out at us: ‘All airports in Scotland closed tomorrow due to volcanic ashes.’ Whoops again! And when we phoned our hotel in Iona, we were told that ‘there’s no electricity, and no ferries have run for several days. Highly unlikely you can get here.’ Whoops once more!

Knowing we wouldn’t be able to get to Iona and might get stuck in Scotland, we made plans to return to Ireland that evening. And with the threat of airport closures throughout Europe, I made a decision to fly back early to New York.

However, in spite of the disappointment of not following my dream to Iona, I was able to spend two joy-filled days working in my garden while dreaming of Iona. An unexpected gift.

O God of surprises, we don’t always get to do what we plan. At times we are disappointed that things don’t work out the way we want them to. Help us to hold on to our dreams and then welcome with gratitude whatever might be coming down the road toward us. Perhaps then we might find beautiful unexpected gifts. Amen.

Joy Carol
www.joycarol.com
May 31, 2011 at 10:24

Reconciliation

Last week I was in Ireland during a very historic time, when the country was visited by Queen Elizabeth II. It was the first official visit from the British monarchy in 100 years. I admit that at first I thought it wouldn’t be a good time to be there! That it would certainly be an inconvenience!

It’s true, there were some inconveniences: times when streets were blocked off, when traffic got held up, when something was delayed because the Queen was nearby. But I now understand it was truly a time of great healing, of inspiration, of reconciliation. For me, there were special moments of grace. It was thrilling to watch two intelligent and inspirational female heads of State, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and Ireland’s President Mary McAleese. I don’t believe these two women of different faiths bothered to discuss the differences between or the superiority of either of their religions. They were, however, astute and sensitive enough to honor the pain of the past but not to remain chained to it. During visits to sites that were reminders of the years of problems between Britain and Ireland, they turned them into sacred moments of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Perhaps some of the greatest moments occurred at the Garden of Remembrance, where the Queen placed a wreath and silently and respectfully bowed her head. Or when she visited the Croke Park Stadium, where British troops opened fire at a Gaelic football match in 1920 killing 14 people.

And to add to that, a sad event occurred that contributed to the overall feeling of forgiveness and reconciliation. While the Queen was still in Ireland, former Irish Prime Minister Garret FitzGerald died. He was known for having a passion for peace and reconciliation and was instrumental in negotiating the Anglo-Irish Agreement with U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Before his death, he told colleagues that he was deeply heartened by the historic visit of the monarchy after an absence of 100 years. The Queen hailed FitzGerald as ‘a true statesman who had made a lasting contribution to peace.’ It seemed FitzGerald had departed the universe at a most appropriate and meaningful time.

I left Ireland with a heart filled with hope and a new-found belief that with respect, intelligence, and sensitivity it is possible that there can be forgiveness and reconciliation between peoples, communities, and nations.

O God, at times we may think that we are superior, that we are the chosen ones. But it is true that people in other lands have hopes and dreams like ours. Help us to honor and respect one another, to be forgiving, and to be open to reconciling our differences and our problems. May we always remember that you are the God of all the nations. Amen.

Joy Carol

www.joycarol.com

May 23, 2011 at 11:42

Practicing Gratitude

Although there’s been pain and loss during the last months, I’ve had a sense of gratitude in my heart. Yes, there’s been good things that have helped me feel grateful: I’ve been in touch with people I haven’t seen for awhile, friends who’ve been ill are recovering, I’m healthy and doing meaningful work, spring has finally arrived after a long hard winter, and the universe seems fresh and alive.

According to Wikipedia, gratitude is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive. But I’m beginning to think that gratitude encompasses a lot more than that. I believe it includes all aspects of life – both the good and the bad experiences. And when we are able to practice unselfish gratitude, it will likely give meaning to our life because we are receiving all of life as a gift.

So now at the end of each day, I’m trying to sit quietly for a few minutes and review my day. I start by remembering people and events that occurred, both those that were pleasant and unpleasant. As I think of the significant people or events that were pleasant, I name the gratefulness I feel for each person or event and let myself receive the richness and nourishment of those experiences. Then I give thanks to God for each one of those gifts that touched my life that day.

Perhaps more importantly, I’m also attempting to recall the unpleasant experiences from the day and focus my attention on those encounters. I admit that’s difficult to do, but I want to learn to approach those memories with a sense of gratefulness for the teachings from those experiences as well as what I’ve learned about myself. I’ve been surprised to find that whenever I give thanks for something painful, it helps me be more peaceful, more calm.

One by one, I want to touch both the good and bad events in life with a sense of gratitude and feel a sense of joy for God’s abundant life.

Great Giver of Abundant Life, there is so much to be grateful for, so much to learn from whatever experiences we may have. Help us to find meaning in our life as we receive all of life as a gift – both the good and the bad things. Thank you for being our teacher and our guide. May we be worthy of your gifts to us. Amen.

Joy Carol

www.joycarol.com

May 16, 2011 at 01:15

Our Relationship with God

Ever since Lent and Easter, I’ve been doing a lot of pondering and asking of questions. My dad once told me that it was a good idea to keep asking questions, even if the answers didn’t come easily or at all or if they weren’t what we wanted them to be. Asking ourselves questions about our life and our spiritual journey means we are alive and willing to grow. So I’m hoping that this season of question asking will be a growth-producing time for me.

In my pondering I’ve come to understand that at different times in our lives, we may feel that we have lost our connection to God. That certainly has happened to me, more than once. There can be many reasons for such a dis-connection: we become too busy, we might be filled with fears or doubts about ourselves or about what life has in store for us, we may be experiencing great losses or grief, or we might not be certain what we really need or want from a relationship with God. Perhaps we are unclear if there is anything we can do to help us draw closer to God.

In the Bible, we are reminded of God’s words to us: ‘Be still and know I am God.’ So if we want to have a deeper relationship with God, we first need to quiet ourselves, spend time in prayer with God, and ask ourselves questions about our journey. As answers come to us, it’s important to sit with them and let them ‘soak in.’ Here are some questions I’m trying to ask myself these days:

•     What do I think is meant by having a relationship with God?
•     What is my present relationship with God?
•     What do I think is missing in that relationship?
•     What can I do to change that?
•     What are spiritual practices that I can do that will deepen my relationship to God?

Beloved God, thank you for creating us because you have a desire to have a relationship with us. May we remember that you’ve created us in your image. Help us to have faith in your energy and love, which resides within us. May we be open to having a deeper and more meaningful relationship with you. Amen.

Joy Carol
www.joycarol.com

May 10, 2011 at 01:55

Our Spiritual Story

Today I’m writing my blog from Holy Cross Monastery, the special sacred place I go every 6 to 8 weeks to clear my head, restore my soul, and fill my spiritual tank. In the very crazy world we live in, I find this really helps me. There’s something healing and spiritual about being in a place where silence is observed at times, prayers are said regularly, the rooms are simple without any noisy items to distract you, and the view from the window is of luscious spring-green trees and the wide Hudson River flowing steadily by.

While resting here, I’ve been thinking a great deal about the importance of telling our spiritual stories. I believe that whenever we pause to ponder our lives and to tell our stories, it helps us to know who we are, to become more whole, and to deepen our relationship with God. In the process we may feel less isolated, more open, and we may even begin to discover new options for ourselves. Our stories have the power to feed, comfort, challenge, and transform us, and they might even lead us to greater wisdom.

Thomas Merton once wrote that it’s important to know what we are living for and to understand what it is that keeps us from living our lives fully. In the high tech, fast-moving world we live in, it can be difficult to consistently live out what we say we believe. With Merton’s words in mind, I’ve come up with a couple of questions that I want to ponder and explore. I invite you to join me in looking at these questions regarding our spiritual story:
•    Are my actions and my living in harmony with my words and my beliefs?
•    Do I walk my talk?
•    What gives me purpose in my life?
•    What am I living for?
•    What is it that keeps me from living my life fully?

Divine Creator, thank you so much for the the precious gift of life. Help us to learn to live it fully and to act out what we believe and what we say we believe. May we forgive ourselves if and when we slip up. Please know that it is our desire to honor you and to live out our truth and our spiritual story. Amen.

Joy Carol
www.joycarol.com
May 01, 2011 at 03:20

Keeping Lent Alive

First of all, I want to take a look at the things I did during Lent to determine if and how they might have helped me. Then I need to decide if it makes sense to continue doing them. If I can understand the benefits of something I did during Lent, it will help me to make a commitment to continue.

Secondly, I believe it’s important for me to find a way to be accountable for my decision. So I have to decide if I should write my commitments as a kind of rule of life or if it would be more helpful to share them with a supportive person. Maybe that person can help by encouraging me or checking in with me. Perhaps that person can pray for me.

Finally, I know that rituals can help us in our spiritual practices or as we worship or pray. If I add a sacred ritual to my decision, then whenever I waiver away from my good intentions, I can call on my ritual to help me reclaim my resolve.

It’s very easy for me to lose my best intentions and to fall off the spiritual wagon. But I want to hang on to the gifts I experienced during Lent. I’m reminded of the disciples on the road to Emmaus exclaiming to one another, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road? (Lk 24:32) Yes, keeping my heart burning with the blessings of Lent is worth working for.

Risen One, we are so grateful for the sacred experience of Lent, when we are reminded of the gifts of your Presence in our lives. We ask that you will open our minds and hearts so we can see and welcome your Presence every day of our lives. Open our eyes so we may recognize you. Amen.

Joy Carol
www.joycarol.com

February 14, 2011 at 08:01

Thank You for the Music

This past week I went to one of the open rehearsals at the New York City Philharmonic. In my November 16, 2009 blog, I explained that an open rehearsal is a working rehearsal and is the last opportunity for the conductor and the orchestra to work out the details of the music. But because it is the final rehearsal, the music is played almost as if it were the actual performance. The music this week was amazing. I could hardly believe how beautiful it was: Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3, played by a brilliant young pianist Jonathan Biss. As Mr. Biss played the Concerto with passion and expression, it felt like an angel was performing. When we left the Hall, I could see that the audience, like me, had been deeply touched and inspired by the gift of music.

When I got home, I went online to see if Beethoven had written something about his music. I found this: “Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of a woman.” Searching further, I saw Martin Luther had written: “Music is no invention of ours; it is a gift of God.” And in Psalm 33: 2-3: “Praise the Lord with the lyre; make melody to God with the harp. Sing to God a new song.”

Music is one of God’s miraculous gifts that we often take for granted. It has the power to lift our souls and provide us enjoyment throughout our life. Some of us, like Mr. Biss, have a special ability to play an instrument or to sing. But even if we don’t have those talents, we can listen to the music of our choice and it can bring joy to our hearts.

Yes, music is a gift from God, and we can be inspired by it. As I started writing this blog, I could hear the words of Abba’s song almost like it was a prayer: “Thank you for the music, the songs I’m singing. Thanks for all the joy they’re bringing. Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty What would life be? Without a song or a dance what are we? So I say thank you for the music, for giving it to me.”

Thank you, God, for the gift of music. It is something that can encourage us and make our souls leap for joy. May we show you our appreciation for giving us this gift. Now teach us to “make music” in the world, to uplift others” spirits. Yes, thank you for the music, for giving it to us. Amen.

Joy Carol
www.joycarol.com
February 07, 2011 at 09:45

The State of Our Souls

A few weeks ago, President Obama delivered the State of the Union address to the nation. That address is given annually before a joint session of Congress to report on the condition of the nation and to lay out agendas for the future.

That got me thinking about other “state of the union” events that take place on a regular basis. For example, teachers evaluate the status of their students’ progress, and supervisors in work settings give performance reviews to people under their supervision. But most of us don’t do a routine check-up or assessment of something that really should matter to us—the state of our souls. Nor do we lay out an agenda or plan for the development of our souls.

As I’ve thought about this idea, I decided that early in a New Year is a good time for us to consider the state of our inner spiritual life and to ask ourselves the question: “How is my soul doing?” But undertaking such an assessment requires a dose of kindness and patience with ourselves, as well as a good sense of humor. Here are a couple of questions that we might want to consider asking ourselves about our soul’s state.

What parts of our lives need some tuning-up or more help from God?

What does the word “faith” mean to us these days? What about “grace”?

How can we create the best life for ourselves and for others by using our God-given gifts?

What do we have that we can give back to God and to the world?

Beloved God, thank you for creating us in your image. Help us to have faith in ourselves and in your energy that resides in us. As we consider the state of our souls, may we remember our truth, our spark of life, our gifts. In the future, may we trust that we will find our way back to the insights that we learn from doing this state of our soul. Amen.

Joy Carol
www.joycarol.com
January 31, 2011 at 01:29

What Gets Our Attention
This weekend I led a women’s retreat at a beautiful retreat center in New Jersey. The theme for the retreat was “Spiritual Tools for Daily Living.” One of the spiritual tools we discussed was knowing what gets our attention and is therefore at the center of our life. I’ve been thinking a lot about that since then.

Most of us get involved doing numerous things, perhaps too many. Often the more we accomplish, the more we are expected to do. We take on more and more responsibility, only to feel resentful of what we have promised. The faster we go and the more we do, the easier it is to forget what we really value. We may even lose touch with the things that nourish us, such as our connection to God.

At some point we may discover that our attention is scattered and diffused. We have too much on our plate, too many responsibilities. We are distracted by the sheer number of our commitments, appointments, relationships, and responsibilities that we have accumulated. Sometimes we are so preoccupied that we actually forget what we need or want. We forget that some of our spiritual tools are our time, our quietness, our being still with God.

Whatever receives our time and attention is usually a good indication of the focus of our life. So we need to think about how and where we spend our time and what gets our attention including our appointments, meetings, errands, responsibilities. This is where we dedicate our precious days, hours, minutes. This is what receives our care and attention, possibly our love.

Are the people and activities that get our attention what we would want to be at the center of our life? Are these the people and situations we would intentionally choose to receive the gift of our company? And what about God? Is God at the center of our lives or does God get very little of our attention?

Beloved Creator, it seems you created us because you wanted us to be your children, your companions. Yet we run away from you like prodigal sons and daughters in a crazy world until we are overwhelmed and exhausted. We ask that you help us keep you in our scope and at the center of our life. We truly need you in our lives. Amen.

Joy Carol
www.joycarol.com
January 23, 2011 at 11:26

Don’t Postpone Joy

On the front of one of my t-shirts are the words Don’t Postpone Joy. It’s fun for me to wear that shirt, because my friends often comment that I shouldn’t postpone my life, since Joy is my name. Recently I’ve found myself thinking about those words. They remind me of Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians: Be at peace among yourselves. . . . Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thes. 5:13-17)

As I think about the time in history when Paul wrote that letter, I realize the world wasn’t very different then from what it is today. There were wars, exploitation of the poor, greed and corruption, much like what we are experiencing now. And those early followers of Christ, many of whom may have been slaves were called to pray, to do the will of God, and to live a life of joy and gratitude.

In our present-day world, we may feel angry, discouraged, even hopeless about the way things seem to be going. It might seem difficult, even absurd, to try to live a life of joy and gratitude. However, we need to remember that medical research has pointed out that if we live in anger over issues that we have no power or control over, our health will suffer, especially our hearts. And anger and frustration are not healthy for our souls either. Jesus knew this without having access to present-day medical research. He told his disciples not to be angry. It would be good for us to listen to his words today. Perhaps we can learn to work for change and for justice with a more peace-filled and joy-filled heart.

So even in the midst of pain, war, unemployment, injustice, we can’t wait until we feel better, or everything is straightened out, or things are right in the world. Today we need to follow God’s words and live in gratitude and in joy. Yes, let’s not postpone joy!

Beloved Creator, we thank you for sending Jesus and Paul to show us how to live more joy-filled lives in this crazy and difficult world. We yearn to sing genuine joyful praises to you. Teach us how to live always with gratitude in our hearts and to not postpone joy, especially the joy we find with you. Amen.

Joy Carol
www.joycarol.com
January 17, 2011 at 08:09

In Our Grief

It feels like a very sad time for our country – brutal killings in Arizona, nasty and violent words being said about each other on the Internet without concern for their power to hurt and destroy, a huge gap in the way people look at each others’ rights and needs. It seems to go on endlessly, and we feel weary, afraid, sad, and, at times, almost hopeless.

At the Memorial Service for the victims in Tucson, Arizona last week, President Obama passionately said that it is important for us to practice humility, to not blame one another for what has happened. He asked that we talk to one another in a healing way, not in a way that wounds. And on their website (spiritualityandpractice.com) Mary Ann and Fred Brussat wrote that although we are a violent country, the time has come for us to walk a path of peace with respect for diversity of opinion. They asked for God’s forgiveness and help in not encouraging the seeds of hatred and violence that are in all of our hearts.

Whenever we begin to lose our dreams, our feelings of security, our beliefs, or our ideals, it’s a normal response that we’ll feel confused and unsure of ourselves. Our confidence hangs in the air like a thin and vanishing fog. So it’s easy to allow fear to dominate our lives.

At such times we need to remember that God is in our life, that “nothing shall separate us from the love of God.” God has promised to forgive us and to love us with all of our faults, with all of our shortcomings. Perhaps when we realize this, we can begin to feel liberated from our fears and can bring more compassion to our hurting world. So let us ask God to quiet our fears and to give us the gifts of wisdom, understanding, and peace.

Divine Giver of Life, we are grateful that nothing shall separate us from your love, that we can come to you in these frightening times and place ourselves in your loving arms. We ask for your forgiveness for the hatred and violence that we harbor in our hearts. Give us the courage and faith to sow seeds of love and peace in the universe. We pray this in your name. Amen.

Joy Carol
www.joycarol.com
January 09, 2011 at 08:54

Come and See

In last week’s blog, I wrote that the New Year provides us with a chance to take stock of our lives. As I’ve thought more about that, I’ve decided that it’s also a good opportunity to evaluate our prayer life and to assess what prayer really means to us. I know that prayer is one of the best ways we can get acquainted with the  relationship we might have with the Divine.

As I was preparing for a workshop I will facilitate next week, I came across the scripture reading from John 1:35-42. It was early on in Jesus’ ministry, and he was starting to meet people who would become his disciples. In the reading the disciples ask Jesus where he was staying. Most likely it was their way of trying to learn more about him and of getting to know him better. Jesus didn’t answer, “I live in Nazareth” or “I live in a house with my parents.” The answer that he gave them was simply: “Come and see.”

This year I want to accept the invitation to “come and see.” I want to learn more about God’s love and to try to understand who God really is in my life. More importantly I want to “come and see” who I am as a cherished child of God. But that means I have to be open with God and allow all of myself to be known to God. I can no long try to hide some of my darker sides – my little secrets that I don’t want God to know about.

Yes, that can be a bit scary. But if I am honest with God, I am certain I will be more true to my real self. Perhaps then I will experience the priceless gift of a deeper relationship with God.

O Holy One, it’s a New Year – a good time to take a look at our relationship with you. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to “come and see” who you are and who we are as your cherished children. May we always be honest with you, our Beloved God. Amen.

Joy Carol
www.joycarol.com

January 03, 2011 at 08:10

Another Chance

Wow! 2010 is history! And here we are facing the beginning of 2011—a New Year.

Often when we start a New Year, we think we should make resolutions for the future: to eat less, to slow down, to be more generous. But as I thought about the beginning of 2011, I realized that a New Year provides us with an opportunity to stop, to take a look at ourselves, to ponder who we are, to realize what we have become, and to think about who we might want to be.

Looking back at the last year, I realize there were many experiences that I’ve repeated—some of which I didn’t seem to learn from, but others that taught me a great deal. I also recognize that I still allow myself to be too busy, too pressed for time, too rushed, so that I am impatient and not as kind or compassionate as I would want to be.

Finally, I remember that there are people and activities that seem to deplete me and others that nourish me and give me strength and joy. So I’ve made a mental note to spend less time with people who are negative, who suck the life out of me. I plan to spend more time in activities and with people that encourage me to grow, that nourish my soul and give me hope.

Perhaps as we take stock of our lives at the beginning of this New Year, we’ll begin to recognize that we really do have an opportunity to make changes, to do what is truly important in life. And we just might understand that we have another chance to spend more time with our Creator and live our lives more deeply and with a true sense of purpose.

Divine Creator, as we approach this New Year, we thank you for the opportunity to take stock and to start afresh. Help us to renew our hearts and souls knowing that You are our constant Companion, that you encourage us to grow, and that we have another chance to become the people we are meant to be. Amen.

Joy Carol
www.joycarol.com