Spiritual, Emotional, Physical and Financial Blessings for the Asking Using this Simple 9 Step Formula

Stop that Wining Child…
On Moving Back Home to Live With My Father



--Are you stressed out about your bills?
--Did you just get fired from your job?
--Has your husband or wife (spouse or significant other) left you – for good this time?
--Are you in debt up to your eyeballs?
--Are they threatening to take your house away because you can’t meet the mortgage payments? Have they declined your mortgage loan application?
--Are your children just looking for a reason to hit the streets and run away from home?
--Do you have your own alcohol/smoking/drug addiction to handle?
--Are you grossly overweight—obese?
--Struggling with promiscuity? Latent homosexual tendencies? Been celibate too long?

Or do you have some other mental, physical, financial or spiritual problem that you need some help with?

Well, today is your lucky day

You’re invited to participate in my free 19 day MSW program.

This program is guaranteed to work for you or your money back.

In other words, if you don’t log/register/experience at least one miracle or spiritual blessing in your life within this 19-day period, then I will gladly refund your complete purchase price, including shipping. Oh…silly me, there is no money to refund…it’s free.

Okay, here are the ground rules for the MSW program participation. The only requirement for this is that you must have a belief in a higher power (i.e. a belief in God or any of His divinely appointed Messengers):

Here are the 9 steps you must take to reap the benefits of the MSW (My Spiritual Weapon) program:

1) Identify up to nine current problems that you are facing.
2) Write these problems down on a piece of paper.
3) Write down any solutions that you can think of for each of these problems.
4) Now, toss out both pieces of paper. That’s right—trash these papers. These are probably just updates on solutions that you have tried before, the same solutions that have not worked for you before, so just toss them out. You’ve heard the saying that you can not solve a problem with the same mindset that created the problem in the first place.
5) Now. Here is the most important step in the process. Read this phrase every day for at least five times a day (more if you think about it): “Thank you (God) for everything. I have (absolutely) no complaints whatsoever.”
6) Repeat this phrase everyday for 19 days.
7) At the end or beginning of each day, write down any good things or unusual or unexpected positive things that you have experienced throughout the day. Good things might include any special blessings that came to you. Blessings can take the form of a good feeling that seemed to appear out of nowhere; financial blessings that come from a known or unexpected source; spiritual blessings, such as feeling more love towards someone, being kinder to others, or feeling love that others have shown toward you. Blessings may also take the form of your developing a new way of viewing your problems, and your taking action and following through on any new solutions that come to mind.
8) While you are saying your phrase each day, think about what it means. Imagine that you are an adult child who has been having some problems that have resulted in you having to move back into your Father’s home. Remember when you were a child and how all your needs were provided for. You did not have to worry about the rent; you did not have to worry about getting food or clothes. All your needs were provided for by your parents. Now that you are back home with your Father for the next 19 days, all you have to do is say “Thank you Father for everything. I have absolutely no complaints whatsoever”. This statement is true because even when you were fighting with your siblings or wanting candy that was bad for your teeth, your father always had a solution and took care of everything. He showed you ways to get along with the other children at school. Try to get in the habit of knowing that while you are in your Father’s home, everything will be taken care of. All you have to do is your part. When you were a child, that meant you got up, dressed, had breakfast and went off to school. As an adult in your Father’s home, all you need to do is figure out a way to serve him. So you might also begin your day by asking “Father, thank you for everything. How may I serve you today?”. Then wait for an answer. When it appears that an answer presents itself, act on it at once.
9) Get involved in some activity that allows you to be of service to others. “Service is the magnet that draws the confirmations of the Merciful One”, and since you are seeking divine confirmations, by being of service to someone/others, this is one sure way to receive your blessings.

Editor’s Note: From time to time, I will be randomly setting up such experiments designed to increase your blessing. Each time I discover new ways to increase the miracles in my life, I plan to pass it on to my readers. Sign up to be notified of when this blog is updated if you wish to be kept informed of any new experiments which cost you nothing to implement, but which may change your life for the better.

Til next time…

This is Lo and I got to go…'cause I’m running for my life.

Geek Squad / Customer Service at Best Buy Store Leaves Computer Consumers to Fend for Themselves…

A “UB-The-Judge” Complaint: Spotlighting Bad Customer Service, Lousy Customer Service or No Customer Service

Best Buy

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Store Location: Raleigh NC (Store 821)
6101 Capital Blvd
Raleigh, NC 27616-2943
Phone: 919-876-1003

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As I entered the Best Buy store on Capital Blvd during a recent visit, I was immediately struck by the Volkswagon Beetle that was parked just to the right of the Best Buy store entrance. The “Geek Squad” advertisement was prominently painted all over the vehicle.

I had two customer service issues when I entered the store and had brought my computer’s CPU with me to return if I could not get the problems resolved.

One issue was the fact that Best Buy’s rebate center personnel (via phone) had decided not to honor a $320 rebate which I was entitled to based on a computer purchase I had made on Black Friday. So I had decided to visit the store to talk to a real person to try to resolve the issue. The first young lady--who might have been an assistant supervisor in Best Buy’s customer service department--took care of that issue and offered me some options as to how to requalify for the rebate. Basically, I would need to purchase a $50 printer to go with the computer bundle in order to qualify for the $320 rebate. So I made the purchase even though I had no respect for the Lexmark brand due to previous issues with its overall quality.

The second issue was a Geek Squad issue. Microsoft, as part of their selling effort, had placed a 60-day trial version of Microsoft Office on the new computer. And I, already having a disk for Microsoft Office, had elected to delete this trial software and install the version I already had. Well, long story short, poor Microsoft software programming had led to my not being able to use my Microsoft Outlook program on the new machine as a result of this. That would not have been so bad except that as a virtual assistant operating a home-based business, it was crucial that my email program be working.

So for 90 minutes the Geek Squad person worked to delete hidden files, etc., to get the Microsoft Outlook program to working, but nothing was working. After all the failed attempts, the Geek Squad person said I was within 30 days so I could have the CPU replaced. So he sends me to the computer department to get the same model.

Now it’s five minutes before the 10 p.m. closing time, and some slickly dressed young woman (who might have been the supervisor) shows up from out of nowhere and asks what the issue is, proceeds to tell me that because I was outside of the 14 day return policy that I would need to take my non-working CPU home as it was, even though the operating system would not allow installation of my Microsoft Office software. I had purchased the machine on 25 November, and it was now 17 December, and she was in effect saying that I was just out of luck. She offered to let her geek squad look at it again, but it would cost me by the hour. Now, this is the same geek squad that had just spent 90 minutes trying to fix the problem without success.

I asked her if it was fair to place the burden of fixing a new machine back on the consumer when her Geek Squad could not fix the problem, and then she informs me that Best Buy is not responsible for software issues. So in effect, Best Buy peddles these e-Machines with the Microsoft trial version software preloaded onto them which causes a problem for everyone and Best Buy does nothing to fix the problem.


What Stellar/Excellent Customer Service would have looked like in this situation:

Best Buy would have offered to uninstall any Microsoft Office trial version from all CPUs containing this program. Free of charge.

What Good Customer Service would have looked like:

Best Buy would have included an instruction sheet with each e-Machine it sells explaining upfront how to uninstall Microsoft Office trial for those customers who had no intention of purchasing the full product. Best Buy would uninstall the software for free to customers who experienced problems.

What Bad Customer Service/Poor Customer Service/No Customer Service looks like:

Read story above for details.

Best Buy sells/peddles e-Machines with pre-loaded software that is known to create problems for users, offers no support, and has a Geek Squad not trained to fix such problems. Best Buy places on its computer shopping customers the burden of not being able to fully use the merchandise it sells and offers no remedy, save that the customer has to incur additional expense to fix a non-working new machine.

So the question: bad service, lousy service or no service? UB the Judge.

Well this is Lo and I gotta go …cause I’m running for my life.

Created Rich: Focusing on Spiritual Qualities in a Materialistic World

"Another aspect of money is that with it good people become better and bad people become worst. If you love humanity, money can help you to establish a foundation of goodwill for unifying people, but if you harbor prejudices or hatred against people, money can aid you to become more destructive and inconsiderate of others, since money increases the potency of one's actions. The person with a high sense of virtue and spiritual rectitude can accomplish a great deal of good with money, but one not so morally endowed can cause dreadful suffering and mischief.”

– Excerpt from Created Rich by Patrick Barker

Putting the Spirit First When Making Life Changing Decisions

Yesterday evening while at my computer, I heard a crash, which seemed to emanate from another room. Something fell, but I was too engrossed in my activity to even turn around.

This morning as I awakened and strolled leisurely to my living room’s sliding glass doors to open the floor-length blinds (or whatever they are called) leading to my balcony, my eyes glanced the book case located in the darkest corner of this one bedroom apartment.

It was a room that used to house my "work-at-home" office, but because I am one who loves the light, the office had zero chance of surviving there, even though it was the most logical place to set up shop.

The space had two high bar stools and a breakfast bar area with a rectangular shaped wall cut out, which would allow guests to watch the cook in the kitchen--if one were ever there (my good friends will know what that means:)-

So I imagined this dark room was designed to be a dining room, but it was so small, and consequently, I had never used it for that purpose. Instead, there sat my singular three-shelf white bookcase, some makeshift filing crates on the floor and, of course, some verdant overgrown live greenery atop the bookshelf. Yes, there were plants gracing just about every room of this home, giving testament to the truth of the assertion that plants are to the poor man what paintings of art are to the rich.

And on the floor, next to my bookcase, was undoubtedly what had caused the crashing sound the night before. Books had fallen off the top shelf. I picked them up. Among them was Created Rich: How Spiritual Attitudes and Material Means Work Together to Achieve Prosperity.

Ahhh... This was one of my favorites. I believe the gentleman that wrote it had served at one point as a volunteer in Israel for the same organization that I had, though I did not know him. But I believe I read somewhere, or maybe someone mentioned to me, that this was a man who was/had been a stay-at-home dad who raised his children while his wife did what she did.(Don't look at me like that, I don't know what she did. I told you already, I don't know the man):-

Anyway, this book was one of the few that made my "must take with me" list as I moved around the world, traveling light and sometimes being forced to take only “essentials” with me. Most of my books were now in storage in another state. But not Created Rich. You see I am a believer that one can serve His Lord in abundance. After all, Jesus Christ said (and I am paraphrasing):

"Ask and it shall be given.” "Knock and the door will be opened."

Of course He had full knowledge when He said all this that His enlightened children--and even those not so enlightened--would be doing a lot of asking and a lot of knocking. Yeah...it is in our nature.

And Baha'u'llah--whose Arabic title when translated means "the Glory of God"--is a prophet out of Persia who lived in the 1800s and proclaimed:

"Having reached the age of maturity, man stands in need of wealth."

Now, if we juxtaposition Baha'u'llah's statement to a talk that His son, Abdu'l-Baha gave--whose title translated means "Servant of the Glory"--we see that His son talks about how much God loves poor people. And, to me, this demonstrates that there is indeed room for both the rich and for the poor to be able to attain an exalted spiritual station in the eyes of God.

But I am rambling so let me get to the point.

Here is a passage from Created Rich. I should say from the onset that the message was very timely for me because as of late I have been contemplating returning to Africa to work and serve. And the questions had come, as they always do when you are middle-aged and childless, "Do I really want to move out of the country again, give up a chance to pay into Social Security and actually have some income, albeit small, in my retirement years?"

The question was now mute as I no longer had a traditional job, and I certainly had not put down roots in my current location, which I have only been in for a year now. So I woke up knowing I had tremendous decisions to make about my life and what should come next.

In the past two weeks, I had been on a number of job interviews, some for part time work, some for full time work, some for any kind of work at all to put the balance sheet in black instead of red. Oh...who am I fooling, there is no balance to the sheet. Even the background of the page is red:)- And thus is born the concept of "Keeping the Faith." "Hallelujah" and "Glory be to God!"

Here is the excerpt from Created Rich by Patrick Barker. I share it with you because maybe you need to hear it too.

"The inordinate desire for physical comforts, the second of man's materialistic tendencies, has to do with all manner of wasteful and excessive consumption. Modern man, especially in the more affluent technologically advanced societies, is consumer oriented. People consume food excessively not for nourishment but for mere pleasure, tend to buy more things than they can reasonably use, and thoughtlessly waste precious natural resources to satisfy their bodily whims. The physical weakening of the human body through inadequate exercise and improper nutrition, the emotional destruction caused by a lack of healthy interaction with other people, and the loss of tranquility through an overabundance of artificial stimulation and noise has contributed to people losing sight of the true function of the material world, which is to act as a classroom for the acquisition and maintenance of spiritual qualities. If our quest for physical comfort leads to laziness or lethargy, it is almost impossible to progress spiritually.

Barker also gives a paragraph on the first of man’s materialistic tendencies, which he describes as being the pursue of riches at the expense of all other things, and on the third of these tendencies as being an overindulgence in worldly enjoyments which have to do with what he calls “the never-ending quest for pleasure and entertainment to the distraction of gaining spiritual attributes.”

Hmmm… I sure wrote a whole lot before giving you the quote. I will try to do better next time.

O SON OF BEING!

Thou art My lamp and My light is in thee. Get thou from it thy radiance and seek none other than Me. For I have created thee rich and have bountifully shed My favor upon thee.

.Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah

Read 9 More Hidden Words at RecallingHealth.com

Hey,

This is Lo, and I gotta go ... 'cause I'm running for my life.

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References:

Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah

Created Rich: How Spiritual Attitudes and Material Means Work Together to Achieve Prosperity

Laughter, Self Talk -- A Fibromyalgia Cure?

"And if thou are looking for the divine remedy which will cure the spirit of man of all diseases and make him obtain the health of the Divine Kingdom, know that it is the precepts and teachings of God. Take the greatest care of them." -- 'Abdu'l-Baha

Here's my latest article posted at RecallingHealth.com, entitled:

One Natural Fibromyalgia Cure for Pain and Fatigue: Discover how I naturally cured my ‘almost’ fibromyalgia syndrome with laughter and self-talk as a remedy and treatment to manage the symptoms of pain and fatigue.

That's all for now.

Hey,

This is Lo and I gotta go ... 'cause I'm running for my life.

Prayers for Aid and Assistance for the Victims of Hurricane Katrina...

"The purpose of God in creating man hath been, and will ever be, to enable him to know his Creator and to attain His Presence." -- Baha'u'llah

In an Hour of Need ...

(Please note if you click on the "title link" above, you will be taken to BahaiPrayers.org)

As I was having some tea this morning, I noted these two quotes on the back of the Celestial Seasoning herbal tea box, which read:

"A house is no home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body." Margaret Fuller

"The flower that follows the sun does so even on cloudy days." -- Robert Leighton

The second quote instantly reminded me of the devastation and the continued sufferings of the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Here is a prayer--copied and pasted from BahaiPrayers.org--offered to bring aid and assistance to the many whose lives, livelihood and homes have been touched by this calamity. You will find many more prayers available at the above mentioned website, but as I have said in a previous post, this is the prayer I used most often in an hour of need.

L ord! Pitiful are we, grant us Thy favor; poor, bestow upon us a share from the ocean of Thy wealth; needy, do Thou satisfy us; abased, give us Thy glory. The fowls of the air and the beasts of the field receive their meat each day from Thee and all beings partake of Thy care and loving kindness.

Deprive not this feeble one of Thy wonderous grace and vouchsafe by Thy might unto this helpless soul Thy bounty.

Give us our daily bread and grant Thy increase in the necessities of life, that we may be dependent on none other than Thee, may walk in Thy ways and declare Thy mysteries. Thou art the Almighty and the Loving and the Provider of all mankind.

'Abdu'l-Bahá

Another prayer reads:

"In God, Who is the Lord of all created things, have I placed My whole trust. There is no God but Him, the Peerless, the Most Exalted. Unto Him have I resigned Myself and into His hands have I committed all My affairs." -- The Bab

You can read The Lord's Prayer here.

Please remember that this day is blessed...and so are you.

This is Lo, and I'm running for my life ...

The Poor Are Blessed With Real Riches...

"The purpose of God in creating man hath been, and will ever be, to enable him to know his Creator and to attain His Presence." -- Baha'u'llah



Ever quit your job before you replaced your full time income?

As I pondered my new found state of joblessness and my meager efforts to create enough income before the bills come due 30 days from now, I came across this gem from a talk given by the Master at a Mission Shelter back in 1912. I wanted to share it with those of you who may be similarly challenged financially or those who just might be in need of some divine inspiration and words of encouragement.

Click on the headline above to go directly to the talk which I have posted at RecallingHealth.com.

The words of love expressed by His Holiness Jesus Christ and Baha'u'llah made my heart sing in thankfulness and celebration for the opportunity to be apart of this elite group of foot soldiers in the army of God. (Mind you, this is not the first time I have been invited to join :-)

No doubt the words in the talk have the inherent power to enrich the souls of the rich and poor alike. What am I talking about--all of God's Words have the potency to inspire and transform the lives of anyone who believes and has faith.

Who was it that said: "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."?

Still reading this post instead of the Blessed Are the Poor talk? Well here are a couple of quotes for you to ponder from the Hidden Words before you go:

O CHILDREN OF DUST!
Tell the rich of the midnight sighing of the poor, lest heedlessness lead them into the path of destruction, and deprive them of the Tree of Wealth. To give and to be generous are attributes of Mine; well is it with him that adorneth himself with My virtues.

O YE RICH ONES ON EARTH!
The poor in your midst are My trust; guard ye My trust, and be not intent only on your own ease.

-- Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words

Yeah, the rich ones on earth have their instructions and obligations from on high too. Who knows, maybe that's why it's so hard for some of them to get into heaven.


This is Lo...and I gotta go.

PS--Still need more?

Ok...here's what I will do. When I finish posting here, I will post one of my favorite prayers for aid and assistance (one in which I have long ago committed to memory). It will be posted here.

PS II--I am gonna try to dream in color tonight...

JusLo's Blog Explores the Fruit of the Spirit

"The purpose of God in creating man hath been, and will ever be, to enable him to know his Creator and to attain His Presence." -- Baha'u'llah


You know, originally I thought having a blog would allow me to update readers of my four other websites on new changes, new articles, etc.

But after reviewing the content of my posts over the past few months, I find that a better purpose for this blog might be to use it as a means to get in touch with my spiritual side. After all, the health of the body and the mind will fade away while the life of the spirit lives on throughout eternity. So why not spend some time cultivating it. Why not spend some time seeking spiritual enlightenment?

Spiritual health and divine happiness through prayer and meditation on the Word of God will be of great use to me when I leave this world and transition to my new home in the realm of eternity.

Exploring concepts such as the purpose of creation or the meaning of life or even the purpose of religion are subjects that intrigue me and even inspire me. But more than that, I find that when I am delving into the life of the spirit, I gain the added benefit of feeling peaceful and serene. It's an excellent opportunity for me to take my mind off my work and place my intention on the thing that I hold near and dear to my heart, namely my service to His kingdom.

So, here's a heads up to a blog that will be devoted almost exclusively to an exporation of the things of the spirit.

It's really funny how things just seem to evolve. I can remember when I published my first website two years ago, and how the experts told me to narrow my focus. I had wanted to do a site on how to achieve a healthy Mind Body and Spirit, but scaled it down to a site entitled "Nutritional-Supplements-at-HealingwithFoods.com"

Of course I eventually turned that into Recalling Health to Mind Body and Spirit because no matter what anyone said I could never justifiably separate the three entities. To do so would have probably earned me more money from my sites, but having a holistic approach to health and healing probably benefits my readers more. (And having a popular and respected health site of more than 150 pages also serves me well in getting any new sites I publish ranked by the search engines with lightening speed. And that's important because the sooner Google and Yahoo and MSN know I am up and running, the sooner my readers can find the information they seek.)

So I guess this site is really a blog for the Spirit section of my RecalllingHealth.com website.

And that seems in keeping with the fact that one of my favorite quotes reads:

"O Son of Light! Forget all save Me and commune with My spirit. This is the essence of My command, therefore turn onto it."--Baha'u'llah

And another one reads:

"There is nothing sweeter in the world of existence than prayer. Man must live in a state of prayer. The most blessed condition is the condition of prayer and supplication. Prayer is conversation with God. The greatest attainment or the sweetest state is none other than conversation with God. It creates spirituality, creates mindfulness and celestial feelings, begets new attractions of the Kingdom and engenders the susceptibilities of the higher intelligence." -- 'Abdu'l-Baha

Did you know that prayer did all that? Everytime I read that I get excited.

So I decided that since I am charged with reciting the verses of God daily anyway, why not use this blog to share some of the spiritual insights gained from those Holy Words with you.

It's all good.

This is Lo and I gotta go...

Racism—America’s Most Challenging Issue…

Overcoming Racism with Faith, Assurance and Spiritual Teachings: Blacks Must Forget the Past, Whites Must Abandon the Illusion of Supremacy

by Loretta Crosby
Editor/Publisher RecallingHealth.com

19 August 2005

The Problem: Racism becomes suspect when there is no other explanation for injustice.

Last night I did not sleep very well.

I was up till 4 a.m. drafting a letter to the Administrator of my ex employer.

Briefly, here’s what happened. On 28 July, the morning following my supervisor receiving my letter of resignation, he signed a one-page evaluation, which stated that I was eligible for rehire at the state agency. Three weeks later, this same supervisor presented me with a “revised” form which now stated that I was not eligible for rehire. The form was laden with contradictions as it also stated that I would be excellent in some positions but not others. Which begged the question, “How can one not be eligible for rehire if there are positions at the agency where one would be expected to excel?”

Long story short, my follow-up letter to the Administrator simply pointed out the contradictions on the form, not the least of which being that it rated me “above average” in six areas and “average” in one area of performance, and concluded that therefore I was “average” in total performance.

But the details of the event are not merely as important as the trend that I am seeing as I have worked for two large state agencies in two southeastern states in the last three years. I had transferred to the second state agency hoping to be closer to an aging parent.

The trend that I am witnessing is one of racial bias and discriminatory practices that go unchecked by the powers that be. When administrators allow their management staff to perpetuate such blatant injustices and dishonesty, it is an indictment of their inability to lead in a world that is increasingly crumbling from a lack of moral leadership and a lack of a concentration on the core values and virtues that are needed to allow any organization to flourish in the face of diversity among its workforce.

The Solution: What the Whites Must Give Up, What the Blacks Must Give

So what is the solution to overcoming racial prejudices, discriminatory practices and the like? Undoubtedly it is a complex one, otherwise it would not have been designated as America’s most challenging issue more than 60 years ago by a spiritual leader who not only articulated the problem, but also gave solutions as to how we might overcome it. It is in the spirit of seeking a resolution to the problem that I offer you some of his words written to a religious community and in the hopes that some gems of wisdom might be uncovered as we as a society take steps to alleviate the problem.

Written in the language of that time, Shoghi Effendi addressed the Negro people, saying:

"...Let the Negroes through a corresponding effort on their part, show by every means in their power the warmth of their response, their readiness to forget the past, and their ability to wipeout every trace of suspicion that may still linger in their hearts and minds. Let neither think that the solution of so vast a problem until the initiative has been taken, and the favorable circumstances created by agencies that stand outside the orbit of their Faith..."

And to the White people, he wrote:

"Let the whites make a supreme effort in their resolve to contribute their share to the solution of this problem, to abandon once for all their usually inherent and at times subconscious sense of superiority, to correct their tendency towards revealing a patronizing attitude towards the members of the other race, to persuade them through their intimate, spontaneous and informal association with them of the genuineness of their friendship and the sincerity of their intentions, and to master their impatience of any lack of responsiveness on the part of a people who have received, for so long a period, such grievous and slow-healing wounds."

Shoghi Effendi’s grandfather, the Master, had previously addressed the White race, saying:

"... I hope that ye may cause that downtrodden race to become glorious, and to be joined with the white race, to serve the world of man with the utmost sincerity, faithfulness, love and purity. This opposition, enmity and prejudice among the white race and the coloured cannot be effaced except through faith, assurance, and the teachings of the Blessed Beauty... This question of the union of the white and the black is very important for if it is not realized, erelong great difficulties will arise and harmful results will follow ... enmity will be increased day by day and the final result will be hardship and may end in bloodshed."

In another communication to the American community, this same Master wrote:

"The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord. If you meet those of a different race and colour from yourself, do not mistrust them and withdraw yourself into your shell of conventionality, but rather be glad and show them kindness."

In addressing both races, Shoghi Effendi again wrote:

"...White and Negro, high and low, young and old … all who stand identified with (the Faith) must participate in, and lend their assistance, each according to his or her capacity, experience and opportunities to the common task of fulfilling the instructions, realizing the hopes, and following the example of (the Master). Whether coloured or non-coloured, neither race has the right or can conscientiously claim to be regarded as absolved from such an example. A long and thorny road, beset with pitfalls still remains untraveled, both by the white and the Negro exponents...”

He also noted that:

"...If any discrimination is at all to be tolerated it should be a discrimination not against but rather in favor of the minority, be it racial or otherwise. Unlike the nations and peoples of the earth be they of the East or of the West, democratic or authoritarian, communist or capitalist, whether belonging to the Old World or the new, who either ignore, trample upon or extirpate, the racial, religious or political minorities within the sphere of their jurisdiction, every organized community enlisted under the banner of Bahá'u'lláh should feel it to be its first and inescapable obligation to nurture, encourage, and safeguard every minority belonging to any Faith, race, class or nation within it. So great and vital is this principle that in such circumstances as when an equal number of ballots have been cast in an election, or where the qualifications for any office are balanced as between the various races, Faiths or nationalities within the community priority should unhesitatingly be accorded the party representing the minority and this for no other reason except to stimulate and encourage it and afford it an opportunity to further the interests of the community..."

More Spiritual Ammunition from the Mouths of Holy Men

God Makes No Distinction

"God maketh no distinction between the white and the black. If the hearts are pure both are acceptable unto Him. God is no respecter of persons on account of either colour or race. All colors are acceptable unto Him, be they white, black or yellow. Inasmuch as all were created in the image of God, we must bring ourselves to realize that all embody divine possibilities ... God did not make these divisions; these divisions have had their origin in man himself. Therefore as they are against the plan and purpose of God they are false and imaginary."

(Compilations, Lights of Guidance)

“As to racial prejudice, the corrosion of which, for well-nigh a century, has bitten into the fiber, and attacked the whole social structure of American society, it should be regarded as constituting the most vital and challenging issue confronting the … community at the present stage of its evolution. The ceaseless exertions which this issue of paramount importance calls for, the sacrifices it must impose, the care and vigilance it demands, the moral courage and fortitude it requires, the tact and sympathy it necessitates, invest this problem, which the American believers are still far from having satisfactorily resolved, with an urgency and importance that cannot be overestimated. White and Negro, high and low, young and old … all who stand identified with it must participate in, and lend their assistance, each according to his or her capacity, experience, and opportunities, to the common task of fulfilling the instructions, realizing the hopes, and following the example, of (the Master). Whether colored or non-colored, neither race has the right, or can conscientiously claim, to be regarded as absolved from such an obligation, as having realized such hopes, or having faithfully followed such an example. A long and thorny road, beset with pitfalls, still remains untraveled, both by the white and the Negro …. On the distance they cover, and the manner in which they travel that road, must depend, to an extent which few among them can imagine, the operation of those intangible influences which are indispensable to the spiritual triumph of the American believers and the material success of their newly launched enterprise.

Let them call to mind, fearlessly and determinedly, the example and conduct of (the Master) while in their midst. Let them remember His courage, His genuine love, His informal and indiscriminating fellowship, His contempt for and impatience of criticism, tempered by His tact and wisdom. Let them revive and perpetuate the memory of those unforgettable and historic episodes and occasions on which He so strikingly demonstrated His keen sense of justice, His spontaneous sympathy for the downtrodden, His ever-abiding sense of the oneness of the human race, His overflowing love for its members, and His displeasure with those who dared to flout His wishes, to deride His methods, to challenge His principles, or to nullify His acts.

To discriminate against any race, on the ground of its being socially backward, politically immature, and numerically in a minority, is a flagrant violation of the spirit that animates the Faith ... The consciousness of any division or cleavage in its ranks is alien to its very purpose, principles, and ideals. Once its members have fully recognized the claim of its Author, and, by identifying themselves with its Administrative Order, accepted unreservedly the principles and laws embodied in its teachings, every differentiation of class, creed, or color must automatically be obliterated, and never be allowed, under any pretext, and however great the pressure of events or of public opinion, to reassert itself…. In the light of this principle, and bearing in mind the extreme desirability of having the minority elements participate and share responsibility in the conduct of Bahá'í activity, it should be the duty of every Bahá'í community so to arrange its affairs that in cases where individuals belonging to the divers minority elements within it are already qualified and fulfill the necessary requirements, Bahá'í representative institutions, be they Assemblies, conventions, conferences, or committees, may have represented on them as many of these divers elements, racial or otherwise, as possible. The adoption of such a course, and faithful adherence to it, would not only be a source of inspiration and encouragement to those elements that are numerically small and inadequately represented, but would demonstrate to the world at large the universality and representative character of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh, and the freedom of His followers from the taint of those prejudices which have already wrought such havoc in the domestic affairs, as well as the foreign relationships, of the nations.

Freedom from racial prejudice, in any of its forms, should, at such a time as this when an increasingly large section of the human race is falling a victim to its devastating ferocity, be adopted as the watchword of the entire body of the American believers, in whichever state they reside, in whatever circles they move, whatever their age, traditions, tastes, and habits. It should be consistently demonstrated in every phase of their activity and life, whether in the Bahá'í community or outside it, in public or in private, formally as well as informally, individually as well as in their official capacity as organized groups, committees and Assemblies. It should be deliberately cultivated through the various and everyday opportunities, no matter how insignificant, that present themselves, whether in their homes, their business offices, their schools and colleges, their social parties and recreation grounds, their Bahá'í meetings, conferences, conventions, summer schools and Assemblies. It should, above all else, become the keynote of the policy of that august body which, in its capacity as the national representative, and the director and coordinator of the affairs of the community, must set the example, and facilitate the application of such a vital principle to the lives and activities of those whose interests it safeguards and represents.

"O ye discerning ones!" Bahá'u'lláh, Prophet and Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, wrote, "Verily, the words which have descended from the heaven of the Will of God are the source of unity and harmony for the world. Close your eyes to racial differences, and welcome all with the light of oneness." "We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations," He proclaims, "...that all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease, and differences of race be annulled." " Bahá'u'lláh hath said," writes 'Abdu'l-Bahá, "that the various races of humankind lend a composite harmony and beauty of color to the whole. Let all associate, therefore, in this great human garden even as flowers grow and blend together side by side without discord or disagreement between them." " Bahá'u'lláh," 'Abdu'l-Bahá (the Master) moreover has said, "once compared the colored people to the black pupil of the eye surrounded by the white. In this black pupil is seen the reflection of that which is before it, and through it the light of the spirit shineth forth."

"God," 'Abdu'l-Bahá Himself declares, "maketh no distinction between the white and the black. If the hearts are pure both are acceptable unto Him. God is no respecter of persons on account of either color or race. All colors are acceptable unto Him, be they white, black, or yellow. Inasmuch as all were created in the image of God, we must bring ourselves to realize that all embody divine possibilities." "In the estimation of God," He states, "all men are equal. There is no distinction or preference for any soul, in the realm of His justice and equity." "God did not make these divisions," He affirms; "these divisions have had their origin in man himself. Therefore, as they are against the plan and purpose of God they are false and imaginary." "In the estimation of God," He again affirms, "there is no distinction of color; all are one in the color and beauty of servitude to Him. Color is not important; the heart is all-important. It mattereth not what the exterior may be if the heart is pure and white within. God doth not behold differences of hue and complexion. He looketh at the hearts. He whose morals and virtues are praiseworthy is preferred in the presence of God; he who is devoted to the Kingdom is most beloved. In the realm of genesis and creation the question of color is of least importance." "Throughout the animal kingdom," He explains, "we do not find the creatures separated because of color. They recognize unity of species and oneness of kind. If we do not find color distinction drawn in a kingdom of lower intelligence and reason, how can it be justified among human beings, especially when we know that all have come from the same source and belong to the same household? In origin and intention of creation mankind is one. Distinctions of race and color have arisen afterward." "Man is endowed with superior reasoning power and the faculty of perception"; He further explains, "he is the manifestation of divine bestowals. Shall racial ideas prevail and obscure the creative purpose of unity in his kingdom?" "One of the important questions," He significantly remarks, "which affect the unity and the solidarity of mankind is the fellowship and equality of the white and colored races. Between these two races certain points of agreement and points of distinction exist which warrant just and mutual consideration. The points of contact are many.... In this country, the United States of America, patriotism is common to both races; all have equal rights to citizenship, speak one language, receive the blessings of the same civilization, and follow the precepts of the same religion. In fact numerous points of partnership and agreement exist between the two races, whereas the one point of distinction is that of color. Shall this, the least of all distinctions, be allowed to separate you as races and individuals?" "This variety in forms and coloring," He stresses, "which is manifest in all the kingdoms is according to creative Wisdom and hath a divine purpose." "The diversity in the human family," He claims, "should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord." "If you meet," is His admonition, "those of a different race and color from yourself, do not mistrust them, and withdraw yourself into your shell of conventionality, but rather be glad and show them kindness." "In the world of being," He testifies, "the meeting is blessed when the white and colored races meet together with infinite spiritual love and heavenly harmony. When such meetings are established, and the participants associate with each other with perfect love, unity and kindness, the angels of the Kingdom praise them, and the Beauty of Bahá'u'lláh addresseth them, 'Blessed are ye! Blessed are ye!'" "When a gathering of these two races is brought about," He likewise asserts, "that assemblage will become the magnet of the Concourse on high, and the confirmation of the Blessed Beauty will surround it." "Strive earnestly," He again exhorts both races, "and put forth your greatest endeavor toward the accomplishment of this fellowship and the cementing of this bond of brotherhood between you. Such an attainment is not possible without will and effort on the part of each; from one, expressions of gratitude and appreciation; from the other, kindliness and recognition of equality. Each one should endeavor to develop and assist the other toward mutual advancement.... Love and unity will be fostered between you, thereby bringing about the oneness of mankind. For the accomplishment of unity between the colored and white will be an assurance of the world's peace." "I hope," He thus addresses members of the white race, "that ye may cause that downtrodden race to become glorious, and to be joined with the white race, to serve the world of man with the utmost sincerity, faithfulness, love, and purity. This opposition, enmity, and prejudice among the white race and the colored cannot be effaced except through faith, assurance, and the teachings of the Blessed Beauty." "This question of the union of the white and the black is very important," He warns, "for if it is not realized, erelong great difficulties will arise, and harmful results will follow." "If this matter remaineth without change," is yet another warning, "enmity will be increased day by day, and the final result will be hardship and may end in bloodshed."

(Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice)


Overcoming Ego So that the Spirit Can Take Charge

So what does it all mean? As a person who has known and felt the effects of discrimination and racial bias, and as a person who is charged by Faith with seeing the “one good quality in a person and disregarding the ten negative ones”, I can tell you that getting a handle on how to deal with such issues poses a major dilemma.

As someone who is also charged with adhering to holy words that ask me to “breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art thyself a sinner,” further complicates how one can best bring to light the fact that he or she has been mistreated.

So taking the route of public humiliation of my victimizers is not the solution, nor can it ever be an option. Instead, as the writings of Shoghi Effendi and the Master and Bahá'u'lláh have suggested, I am charged with the tasks of extending forgiveness and of wiping out my suspicion that certain acts have been deliberately perpetuated against me because of my brown skin and kinky hair.

I have accepted to engage in a spiritual solution to racism, imploring faith, assurance and adherence to the Holy Writings. I will therefore “close my eyes to racial differences, and welcome all with the light of oneness”, for I know of no other effective way that would adequately resolve the issue.

Of course, the flip side to what I am charged to give as a person of color is that white people must give up or “abandon once and for all their usually inherent and at times subconscious sense of superiority” and “ to correct their tendency towards revealing a patronizing attitude towards the members of the other race”.

Then too I recognize that not everyone will approach the issue from a spiritual perspective, and while I may forgive and forget the past, unless my white brethren do their part, the lasting solution to the problem will continue to evade the American community.

Having a spiritual foundation and spiritual laws in which to address such issue of racial inequality is the only way that I can get through these periodic, though more constant than necessary, episodes of expressions of racial bias and attitudes of white supremacy.


Is my “Racism Radar” Just Ultra Sensitive or Is the Problem So Rampant that It Touches One Person Over and Over Again in the Work Environment and Other Areas?

Finally--and oftentimes--the victim of such acts of racism begins to question whether he or she is being overly sensitive, and may think that perhaps the suspicion of being discriminated against may not even be a valid one.

As I contemplate that scenario, my mind drifts back to Israel and my four years of volunteer religious service there. I am reminded of an incident that happened one afternoon as I was walking home, an incident in which this little Israeli boy, who I estimated could not have been any older than 10, I am reminded of the words he uttered when he saw me. Whoever tells you there is no Hebrew word for nigger has obviously never walked the streets of this Jewish nation under cover of dark skin.

It is time that this worldwide view of people of African descent that is perpetuated and exported by the American media be examined and put in a rest home, much like Billy Jo Thornton (or is it Bobby Joe) put his father in a rest home after his dad disrespected this lead actor’s black woman (Halle Berry) in the film Monster’s Ball.

The myth of Black people as lazy, shiftless and no good had to be created as a degradation technique to keep them in check during slavery, but now that slavery is no longer an economic reality, isn’t it really time to put racism to rest in a home where s/he can die a natural death?

Isn’t it really time to acknowledge what the Persian Prophet—a Man of vision Who was charged with ushering in the age of mankind’s spiritual maturity and the realization of the oneness of humankind—isn’t it time we listen to what He told us in the 1800s, namely:

“The earth is one country and mankind its citizens”

The other story that comes to mind as I contemplate whether my radar is off the chain when it comes to detecting racism is a phenomenon that actually has nothing to do with racism, well almost nothing. The similarity, if any, would have to be noted that both acts occur as a result of hate, ignorance, and sometimes just plain tradition.
I refer to the issue of domestic violence (DV). In my travels, I have often found it to be quite perplexing the number of times I have lived next door or across the hall from men who physically abuse their spouses or significant others.

In the states I have encountered this problem two to three different times. In Israel, once.

So the question is whether I am ultra sensitive to the issue of DV, and that is the reason I encounter it so frequently or whether the perpetualization of the act is the reason for the sensitivity.

I would argue that racism, regrettably, is still quite prevalent in our society and abroad, and often goes unchecked. I would also argue that DV is quite prevalent in our society as well.

Leaning not to my own understanding…

My letter to the agency Administrator of my ex employer asked her to give reasons for why my final performance evaluation had been altered to reflect a negative rating. It also asked that in the alternative that the rating be revised to reflect what was placed in the initial document.

It advised that if I could not find suitable employment in a reasonable amount of time due to the effects of an unjustified “not eligible for rehire” rating, that I would seek counsel to remedy the injustice.

But regardless of what the outcome is, I can rest easy in the knowledge that I made a report of the dishonesty. That I took a stand to help the agency move forward, knowing that if a man places his feet on my head and holds it there, that neither he nor I will be able to move.

Racism causes stagnation and is truly a pigment of the imagination.

So again I find myself trusting on my Father’s Word when He proclaims that

“Nothing save that which profiteth them can ever befall My loved ones…”

And to those who casually brush aside this notion of racism, white or black, thinking “Now I really don’t think this issue concerns me,” I leave you with the words of one of America’s own native sons, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who said:

“Since justice is indivisible, injustice anywhere is an affront to justice everywhere.”



This is Lo…and I gotta go.

Remember always,

“The only thing necessary for evil to flourish is that good men do nothing.”

—Edmund Burke

P.S. A friend of mine called me the morning I had written this article, and I explained the circumstance under which it was conceived. I told her that while in prayer I had asked the Father why the incident had happened, and it came to me that perhaps I needed to address this all pervasive issue of racism.

My friend then recounted a comparable incident surrounding her departure from yet another state agency in another part of the country.

Unlike me, she had managed to escape the oppression without being black balled by the agency through their use of the “not in good standing” provision.

There are many stories to be told. If you’ve got one to tell, feel free to join in the discussion with a comment of your own.

PS II -- A big thanks to my friend Deb, who encouraged me to approach the issue from a spiritual perspective. What would the world be without Sisters Holding Strong, an organization dedicated to helping women be the best that they can be.

--God is Most Glorious------------------------------

1 September 05

A little update to this post.

Today I got a letter from the agency administrator. Justice has prevailed!

Always an opportunity to praise...

This morning I got a little time on my hands.

Last night we had a thunderstorm here in Raleigh, North Carolina. Must have been a huge one. It was enough to get me to turn off my computer and go to bed early. The lightening was fierce, and as we learned to do while growing up in my grandmother’s home umpteen years ago, its best to turn off all the lights in the house and get quiet and “let the Lord do His work”.

So I did just that. Went to bed around midnight and woke up a little after 6, which was about right cause my internal clock will give me six hours before it thinks I’ve had enough of a break. No I don’t know who is the mastermind controlling that clock but it sho ain’t me, cause I would at least set it for 8 hours, minimum.

Anyway, this morning I wake up and my mind immediately tells me to look outside. So I did. My intuition had warned me the night before that I needed to move my car from under the tree because the winds were blowing so strong. But the lightening that had accompanied it told me that it was better my car get the damage than me get the electrocution, so I went on to bed. After all one can replace a car, right?

So I look outside in the haze of a film cover over my eyes, and there it is. My red Ford Focus barely visible to the eyes. What was visible was the huge tree limb that had fallen on top of it, with literally thousands of leaves blanketing the whole car. Dag-Gone-It!

Ok so I put on my shorts and I go out to survey the damage. Mind you, the tree limb has not really finished breaking off from the tree totally, so it can still cause damage if it is moved in the wrong way or if I try driving my car out from under it.

I survey the damage and it looks like the only thing broken is the driver side rear view mirror mount. It has broken off completely and now lays on the ground under some leaves with the mirror throwing back at me a reflection of even more leaves. I don’t even bother to pick it up.

“Nothing save that which profited them can ever befall My loved one”--Bahá'u'lláh

So it looks like my morning has been planned out for me by the divine assayer. That’s good. It means I won’t have to think so hard today. Instead of figuring out who is disabled and needs to get a Social Security Disability or SSI check, I can focus on who to call to get the tree limb off my vehicle, and whether I should call the insurance company or not. Do they cover natural disasters, and most of all, what is my deductible? I mean how much could a rear view mirror mount really cost to replace?

The trick is going to be whether the people moving the tree limb can do their part without further damaging my car. At this point I have already awaken an apartment maintenance man out of his sleep at 6:30, and he didn’t sound too happy about that.

Meantime I had also called my job and left a message that I had this little problem to take care of this morning, halfway knowing that they were not going to believe such a story, especially given the fact that this is a Friday morning (in a state government agency) and I had just resigned my position earlier in the week.

“That Loretta really can get creative with her TGIF stories…she has to be admired for that if nothing more” I envisioned my supervisor thinking. Where is the trust, my friend, where is the trust.

Well it is now 7:08 and my alarm clock is thumping, but before I go, here is the lesson I take from this.

Despite the first thought that came to my mind when I looked upon my tree limb covered car, I immediately replaced it with another one. The first thought was that trouble comes in threes.
#1 - out of a job.
#2 - Tree falls on vehicle--only my vehicle, no one else's.
#3 - an unknown something, something lurking in the wings for me, unknown, but sure to come.

But instead of holding on to that ole tale, I immediately replaced it in my mind with the quote above (and below),

“Nothing save that which profited them can ever befall My loved one”--Bahá'u'lláh

Only time will tell whether I was quick enough in replacing the trouble comes in three's negative ingrained thought with my newer and more productive version.

This is Lo and I gotta go…TGIF

Sitting Quietly in a Room

All of man's difficulties are caused by his inability to sit quietly in a room by himself. -- Pascal

This morning as I endeavored to keep a promise, I found myself realizing the truth of Pascal's words (see quotation above).

I had promised to say prayers on this day while others went out to engage in spreading the fire of GodÂ’s love for mankind (i.e. they were out teaching the Cause of God to souls who thirst for a taste of the life giving waters that only the Word of God can quench).

Earlier in the month I had attended a Reflections Gathering and had volunteered to go to the Center and say prayers for the success of the teaching work that morning. With so much going on, I had forgotten that the Center was all the way across town, in fact in another city altogether. So I decided that it might have the same effect if I just stayed in and said prayers at my home for one hour at the allotted time.

As I prepared myself by first washing my face and hands, I then got out my prayer books, a couple of inspirational books and threw my cotton blanket on the floor to begin precisely at 10:00 a.m.

I started by chanting 95 times the phrase God is Most Glorious (in Arabic) to clear my mind of any debris. Then I said the Prayer of Visitation to evoke the presence of the Master so that he might be my guide throughout the prayer session.

From there I moved on to reciting teaching prayers, one for the Southern States and one for the Northern States and on and on. I actually said the prayer for the Southern States several times.

I repeated many times the following prayer for divine assistance as revealed by the Bab (Arabic title meaning The Gate):

Is there any remover of difficulties save God? Say praised be God. He is God. All are His servants and all abide by His bidding.

I said this prayer revealed by Bahá'u'lláh several times too:

He who puts his trust in God, God will suffice him. He who fears God, God will send him relief.

I should note that after I said the first prayer The Prayer of Visitation -- the tears had already begun to stream from my eyes. I think it was this sentence that threw me for a loop:

Graciously look upon Thy servant, humble and lowly at Thy door, with the glances of the eye of Thy mercy, and immerse him in the Ocean of Thine eternal grace.

Let me try to explain why.

Earlier in the month a good friend of mine who served with me in Haifa Israel, she and I had decided that we would vie for our Fathers love, and had commenced with writing love letters to God. You can read about the 9 Love Letters to God project here if you want the rest of the story.

So I had written a response to her second love letter to God, and ended the piece with a post script and short poem which simply read:

P.S. II. And if my Father flinches in the least or acts as though He does not recognize (my) name - - tell him instead that I am just a beggar you noticed kneeling outside the door, with a sign in the left hand that read:

Will work for a glance

Will toil for a chance

Will forgo all love, pleasure, hate

To be allowed to kiss the dust

Not atop, but beneath His feet.

And as I said, I think the word glance in that Prayer of Visitation really got to me, because in my quest to be with the Beloved, I am aware that:

With a look He granteth a hundred thousand hopes, with a glance He healeth a
hundred thousand incurable ills, with a nod He layeth balm on every wound..

But I digress--now back to the story...

So, it was now 10:12 as I noted my watch for the first time. Uhmm. That is not really an hour and already I am in tears and I am ready to be done with just sitting here communing with a being that I cannot see.

Okay, now let me kneel down, press my head against the cotton throw and really engage my Lord with my own prayers from the heart. Another 10 minutes passed after that.

Now, let me get up and read some of this inspirational stuff from Grace For the Moment : Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year by Max Lucado. I read not one day's inspiration but seven days of meditations, ending with this from his compilation:

Is there any emotion that imprisons the soul more than the unwillingness to forgive?

Still, at 10:30, it was enough. I could do no more. I would not be able to pray for the full hour. And my only consolation was these words of Scripture that came to mind:

One hour's reflection is preferable to seventy years of pious worship.

And later I found this passage too:

Take heed lest excessive reading and too many acts of piety in the daytime and in the night
season make you vainglorious. Should a person recite but a single verse from the Holy Writings in a spirit of joy and radiance, this would be better for him than reciting wearily all the Scriptures of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. Recite ye the verses of God in such measure that ye be not overtaken with fatigue or boredom. Burden not your souls so as to cause exhaustion and weigh them down, but rather endeavor to lighten them, that they may soar on the wings of revealed Verses unto the dawning-place of His signs. This is conducive to nearer access unto God, were ye to comprehend.

Yeah, the mind is always there to the rescue with logic galore for helping us not keep our commitments or promises. The ego is older than we are in years and knows how to stroke just enough so that the deception is viewed as only a tiny little lie.

I will try to do better on the 9^th, the next date I have committed to. And perhaps the agony will not be as intense if I attempt this same feat (i.e. one hour of prayer) in a group setting.

Well, this is Lo, and I gotta go...

Spiritual Discipline and Oneness

On Tuesday I shared with you that this week I would be practicing the virtue of discipline.

It is interesting that when we start to focus on a thing, how other related things just kind of show up in our life.

Last week I had recommended to a psychologist in the office I work in, that she might be interested in reading David Hawkins' Power versus Force. So, yesterday while away from my desk at lunch, she had left a note saying that she had begun reading the book over the weekend and was enjoying the book. She asked me if I had read anything by Wayne Dyer or Deepak Chopra or Marianne Williamson.

So I sent her an email saying yes, Wayne was one of my favorites who I had been reading since the late 1980s and though I had read Deepak I really wasn’t that fond of his writing style but had enjoyed a short work of his called Creating Affluence. But as for Marianne Williamson, I had yet to read her but that I thought I had her in my library at home.

Well this morning, I gave myself a choice: whether I would take a morning walk and enjoy the brisk morning air, or lay in the bed a little longer and “feed my spirit”. I choose to stay in bed, which really came as no surprise since I have not yet gotten into the habit of walking everyday yet. I will try to do better tomorrow.

So I picked up Marianne Williamson, and all I can say after the first 29 pages is Wow! Where have you been all of my life?

Don’t have time to say more, but here are a couple of quotes from the book that I want to share with you, one of which speaks to this idea of discipline. Enjoy—

This is Lo, and I gotta run…

Quote on Discipline
The word discipline comes from the same root as the word disciple, and the mystic is a disciple of love. We are mentally disciplined to believe that there is no problem love cannot solve. Holiness is an internal state, a whole” way of seeing. When our minds are no longer fragmented by the illusion of our separation from each other, but healed by the truth of our oneness, we are awakened to a new dimension of compassion. Within the mantle of that love, there is literally nothing we cannot do. We have remembered who God is. We have remembered who we are. Finally, we are whole at last.

Quote on Oneness
Our relationship with God is our relationship with ourselves, for in no way are we separate from Him. Aligned with Him, we are firm within our own power, thinking ourselves separate from Him, we are cast into internal chaos and fear. To know that we are one with God is to know that we are infinite love. When we are not loving, we are literally not being ourselves. Infinite love is not an attribute of our being, but rather the essence of our being. Our only real problem is that we have forgotten who we are. – Marianne Williamson, Everyday Grace: Having Hope, Finding Forgiveness and Making Miracles

The Virtue of Discipline

Thoughts from this morning's walk and communion with God:

Baha'u'llah, Prophet and Founder of the Baha'i (Bahai) Faith says:

"Truthfulness is the foundation of all human virtues."

This week I am practicing the virtue of discipline, and here is the word I got today.

Though truthfulness is the foundation of all human virtues, the truth is that it takes the discipline to change bad or undesirable habits that are not working for you in your life and replace them with habits that will lead you to the fulfillment of your goals and heart's desire.

Have you taken the plunge?

Go ahead and practice the virtue of discipline this week or another virtue of your choosing.

Just for your information, virtues are those things/attributes that you will be able to take with you when you leave this plane of existence for the next one.

Practicing virtues in this world will make you spiritually stronger for your lifetime in eternity. Mastering virtues means you won't be handicapped when you transition to that other world of the spirit.

That's the word and I'm sticking to it :)-

Have a disciplined filled day!

I gotta run....

Recalling Health to the Spirit on the National Day of Prayer

As we wind down our celebration of this National Day of Prayer, I offer to you the following prayers as well as some Holy Writings revealed about the station of prayer and its ability to lift up our souls and help us all recall health to the spirit.

National Day of Prayer

Prayer For America

Nine Hidden Words

The Hidden Words Collection Here

Prayer:

"In the highest prayer, men pray only for the love of God, not because they fear Him or Hell, or hope for bounty or heaven... When a man falls in love with a human being, it is impossible for him to keep from mentioning the name of his beloved. How much more difficult is it to keep from mentioning the Name of God when has come to love Him... The spiritual man finds no delight in anything save in commemoration of God."--Compilations, Lights of Guidance


"Know thou that religion is as heaven; and fasting and obligatory prayer are its sun and its moon. We entreat God, exalted and glorified be He, to graciously aid everyone who acteth according to His will and good-pleasure."

On this Day…I want to ask you this question:

Are you happy?

National Day of Prayer - Natural health using dietary supplements, self empowerment, meditation and prayer

JusLo's Blog Launches -- Shea-Skins Newsletter too!

Hello World--

Finally I think I am online with this blog after a year of resistance. Oh well. Gotta take the plung sometime.

Please pardon any errors or omissions or lack of proper etiquette.

"First I want to thank the Creator, then my mom, then..." Oh, what's that you say? This is not the academy. Ok, sorry I must have gotten carried away. Let me get back on track here.

Here is the description I came up with describing what I do in my spare time (i.e. what my websites are all about):

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Seeking a holistic approach to recalling health to the body, mind and spirit? Need nutritional supplements to ward off chronic diseases? Want to learn about the benefits of using all natural African shea butter for your body and skin care needs? Are you a newbie to website publishing and need to build a website for your work at home goals? I can help. ----- “JusLo and Associates…providing guidance for your health and for the health of your online business.”
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That said. I just published my first Shea-Skins newsletter for my Shea-Butter-Negroes.com subscribers. You can check out the two new articles here: Dry Skin Blues and "Rub me down in some hot oils...that's shea oils."

Gotta turn in now. It's a Holy Day so work will be suspended. But...still gotta rest.

Till next time...

May your right palm itch everyday... wealth

May you acknowledge the Creator for the awesome blessings bestowed... prosperity

And may you have at least one person in your life who you would die for without missing a beat ... love
Love...the awesome force that holds it all together.........

Lo--

Recalling Health Blog Launches in Testing Mode

"Dr Livingstone, I presume?"

Am I lost or what.

Don't know where this thing will publish to.

Gotta go ... see.

Oh...did I say Welcome to RecallingHealth's blog

(Where are your manners woman)--