THE GATE OF THE YEAR

I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year,

“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”

And He replied,

“Go out into the darkness and put thine hand into the hand of God;

that shall be to thee better than light and safer than a known way.”

by

Minnie Louise Haskins

(1875-1957)

(Minnie Louise Haskins wrote a poem in 1908 called 'The Gate of the Year', from its first line: 'I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year'.   King George VI recited some of the poem when he gave his Christmas Message on the radio in 1939.)

Christmas Love-Letter...

I never knew the ‘meaning’ of LOVE until

I fell head-first in LOVE with YOU…

there is --

A ‘serious’ LOVE… with this LOVE there is a ‘knowing’ that you’ve  been given a precious gift, GOD’s gift of a very unique soul…

one soul given in trust, one to the other,

to LOVE, to hold, to care for… Beyond and more.

A ‘teasing’ LOVE… with this LOVE you laugh with each other in that special way… knowing that each of you can do anything to the other

because LOVE is at the essence of it all !

A ‘respectful’ LOVE… with this LOVE you are always caring for the other in a tender, care-full way… showing, in little ways, just how important this LOVE is !

A LOVE that is ‘FOREVER’ … with this LOVE, it is one that lives beyond this morning, this evening, this year… far into our next life together as

each other’s Best-Friend, Partner and Lover !

                                        MERRY  CHRISTMAS Darling !!

Life Line...

Though adrift we may be midst the fortunes of life, salvation is ever at hand.  Hope’s life line lies deep within each one of us.  We have but to visualize it, to grasp hold of it, thence to cast it into the light of our God-given goodness.

It is this alone—our divine inborn goodness—that sustains and uplifts us.  Our very well-being, morally and spiritually, demands that we honour this gift, in our every thought and in our every deed.  Moreover, we invite the goodness in others to reveal itself through our own conduct.

Garry D. Kilbourn

bwfaithministry

“Hope’s life line lies deep within each one of us…in our every thought and in our every deed…invite the goodness in other to reveal itself…”

The other day, as we walked together, I watched a friend give a “life line” to a dear, humble homeless soul.  As their eyes met, the goodness in each other was revealed as they said ‘hello’.  She noticed that he was holding a plastic bag not yet full of empty bottles…no gloves—his hands visibly cold, she offered her warmed mittens.  ‘This feels better’, he said, as he pulled them on…     We continued our walk in awesome silence…   grateful that heaven is here and God is always near.  blw

                                                                                                  

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i 99

Washington and Wall Street, engines of greed

Stealing the future of those in need

We are the millions you choose to ignore

Stand aside for the people, we’ll show you the door.

i 99 is our gathering cry

Pay heed all ye wastrels

We’re here, do or die.

Our money is squandered on permanent wars

Our children go hungry, our home the outdoors

Workingman’s jobs are all that we need

Washington and Wall Street, engines of greed.

i 99 is our gathering cry

Pay heed all ye wastrels

We’re here, do or die.

Included we shall be, our fair share to claim

For all that is good you’ve shown but disdain

The moral high ground we’re here to restore

You’ve had your run; waste no more.

i 99 is our gathering cry

Pay heed all ye wastrels

We’re here, do or die.

by  Garry D. Kilbourn

December 9, 2011

Change Knows No Bounds...

The circumstances that determine our state in life are not immutable.  With each breath we draw and with every thought that assails the mind, we have the opportunity to change.

Change begins, firstly, with a willingness to do so, followed by a firm resolve to see it through.  In the full knowledge that change is an intensely personal matter, we are obliged to look nowhere but within.

In a state of repose we learn to quiet the mind, ever cognizant of God’s love while silently affirming “I am enough.”  We thus become physically and emotionally centered, at once sensing a warm inner peace.

In such a state, visualize as two separate beings mortal body and immortal soul.  Allow purity of mind to transport soul’s divinely spiritual essence into the realm of intuitive sixth sense, whereupon spirit is suffused with the light of God’s wondrous love.

Save that which we limit ourselves, change knows no bounds.  Neither does it come easily.  Learning to cherish a sense of one’s own goodness is essential to our well-being.  In time, our every thought, our every deed, are those of love for our fellow-man: We are ever at one with God.

Garry D. Kilbourn

bwfaithministry

“Change knows no bounds”  …My need for forgiveness changed to Love

Yesterday, while at the Library, I noticed a book by Marianne Williamson, A Course in Weight Loss,’ 21 Spiritual Lessons for Surrendering Your Weight Forever.  Hooked, I sat down and started reading.  I usually ‘skip’ lessons in books but this time I thought, you never know.  Marianne says, “This is a meaningful opportunity to see your light, by being courageous enough to look at your darkness.”  The first lesson asks… look at these words and write down in detail “what is true for you.”   I silently said the words and mentally wrote down my feelings…slowly and thoughtfully.  I was right into it!  I must have turned a personal-growth-corner.   “Change knows no bounds”…I didn’t have expectations with this lesson, but this morning I found myself silently talking to my Mom about how sorry I was for ___ and if only ____ !!   In the past I would ask for her forgiveness—this time I said, I LOVE YOU MOM !  No longer in need of forgiveness, I’m now free to Love.  blw

Mom (1917—2001)   

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Control Our Thoughts...

We are all plagued by unwelcome, ofttimes harmful, thoughts, a condition we tend to take for granted.

Presumably, in the belief that “this is the way it is; it is just human nature,” all too few take the time to consider, and to question this phenomenon; one both harmful and wrong.

Thought is but a phantom of the mind, having its origin in the brain.  It is common knowledge that the brain, in turn, is a highly malleable human organism:  It has the potential to generate those thoughts we ourselves will.  Herein lies the key.

We can, and we must, control our thoughts if we are to know and enjoy any measure of our God-given humanity.

Possessed of the inborn power to control our thoughts, we must be ever vigilant, ready to dismiss from the mind unwelcome and harmful thoughts.  Strange as it may seem, this is brought about by our simply introducing into the mind an uplifting thought:  “Thank you, God,” for example.  Already we feel better.

Garry D. Kilbourn

bwfaithministry

… belief  that “this is the way it is…”

Amazing how a  belief can control your life.  Something someone said triggered  memories of my mom.  I didn’t know I had a subconscious belief that controlled how I dealt with my insecurities.  Looking back I realize mom was unwell our whole life together.  From childhood I saw how mom would become ill when faced with making decisions.  Illness was her safety net .  I didn’t know that her behaviour influenced my way of coping with life. 

New beginnings – July 2011 – no more running away from my feelings.  With this gift of awareness, whenever I start to feel uneasy, I know it is my responsibility to look within myself for the answer.  Life is for living our highest potential.  “Thank you, God.”  blw

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Hymn: REST

I walk with Love along the way, And O, it is a holy day;

No more I suffer cruel fear, I feel God’s presence with me here;

The joy that none can take away Is mine; I walk with Love today.

Who walks with Love along the way, Shall talk with Love and Love obey;

God’s healing truth is free to all, Our Father answers every call;

‘Tis He dispels the clouds of gray, That all may walk with Love today.

Come, walk with Love along the way, Let child-like trust be yours today;

Uplift your thought, with courage go,  Give of your heart’s rich overflow;

And peace shall crown your joy-filled day.  Come, walk with Love along the way.

John Stainer
Minny M.H. Ayers

Christian Science Hymnal