Inspiration Content

Each night, when I put my head on the pillow and tu my thoughts to things ethereal, I am hopeful that the world is a little better place than when I awoke that moing. I hope that the dissidents, extremists, murderers, plunderers, bigots, philanderers, cheaters, molesters and others of mean-spirit find that their chosen path is not a beneficial avenue. I hope they see that they themselves are not truly benefiting from a mean-spirited philosophy.

It is because I am addicted to Right Action and Positive Thought that I see the Light shining on our sorry world. I believe, with the very essence of my Soul, that mankind will evolve from the hate and bitteess to a place of peace and contentment. Admittedly, that hope requires a very positive attitude!

It is essential that we lea to live with each other as those of different religions have done for thousands and thousands of years. A tall order these days with the conflicts precipitated by a shrinking globe, economic competition, changing demographics and the convoluted social structures produced by technological advances. That, in a nutshell, is a statement of the problem as it has existed for many years, now exacerbated by the intensity of extreme views, tued militant.

Spirituality does not require a church. Goodness does not require a pew. Compassion and Right Action are part of the Spirit. And if that Spirit can be bridled within all of us, then the work of God is being done.

Politicians will tell you that geopolitical influence ... the territorial imperative ... is the causal culprit for today's ills. Economists swear that if you trace any problem to its source, you will find money as the reason for the problem. Those are both half-truths. If you carefully study the emotions involved, you may conclude, as I do, that the major factor in today's conflicts is the intolerance of the belief system of others.

Clearly, religious differences have caused (and are causing) the disruption in the world today. Territorial and economic factors are essentially without emotion ... religion is central to the Soul and devastating in its importance when extremists prevail. It is only with the hope of Inter-religious Dialogue (IRD) that a fundamental and permanent understanding can be achieved. That path is long and difficult ... but as the gentle fingers of night pull back the curtain of dawn each day, new hope is bo, and each of us must make this world a little better place than we found it.

The primal religions have some bizarre examples at which we might scoff, were it not for our respect for all belief systems. And Dialogue requires of us, if we are serious about it, to accept even these primal notions as being valid and worthy paths to God. I have in mind the worship of airplanes in the South Pacific ... seen in the sky as a part of a deity, the primal mind is clear that the large object could not possibly "fly" unless it was God driven. And crashed planes on the ground become sacred shrines. Totally believable! I do not scoff at this at all ... in fact I admire the primitive mind and its devotion to an idea that manifests in their culture as a sign of God.

It is true that materialism has become a way of life in our time ... witness even the Communist China phenomenon, edging towards economic growth rather than communal existence. And the emphasis on wealth and position in our country is a well established condition. None the less, the Spirit prevails, and the buing desire within each of us to commune with the God of our choice dwarfs the call of materialism. Everyone wants to do the right thing.

Respect for others is central to the human condition and a basic tenant of rational and peaceful existence. It is one of my pet peeves (I should have none) when I see a human being not respecting others. I believe that this lesson, which needs to be leaed by many, is the root beginning of a peaceful planet. Most certainly, on an individual basis, respect and compassion are fulfilling, satisfying and rewarding. Respect for parents, ancestors, teachers and clergy ... all find powerful support as a virtue in the world's religions.

The Alchemists of old worked over many years ... centuries ... in their quest to tu base metals into gold. At least that is the popular notion. In fact, alchemy is a blend of science and philosophy. It has been so since before the Common Era, when the ancient chemists did attempt to tu inexpensive metals into expensive ones ... but always with the underlying thoughts that their work was also symbolically related to the perfection of life.

Through the power of the Spirit and Positive Thinking, do your best to disallow depression ... tu, instead, to happy thoughts. Look for the Light, the "good side" of an issue. Visualize a happy and positive outcome of whatever it is that is causing you some mental grief. I promise you that if you think positive thoughts, they will manifest into the reality, in ways that will surprise you.

Dr. Malkin holds a B.Sc. in Business and a Masters and Ph.D. in Religion. He has made hundreds of visits to schools with a moving and effective motivational presentation, urging teens to do their personal best. His mentoring programs have empowered many, many children. His quest for years has been to teach the power of Right Action, working towards the goal of a better world.

Excerpts from "Looking for a Better World" By Stuart J. Malkin, Ph.D. Go to: http://www.buybooksontheweb.com/description.asp?ISBN=0-7414-2134-8

The blaring sound leapt under Jerry�s skin and strangled him awake in an instant. His eyes popped open in terror and for a darkened moment he forgot where he was.

�Oh, Jeeze,� he exclaimed in sudden realization��the freekin� alarm.�

He slammed his wrist on the snooze button and flopped back on the bed.

Nine minutes later the blare cried out again though the awareness came much quicker. Jerry smacked the clock and rolled his feet off the side and out from under the sheets. Slug-like, he dragged his sagging carcass into the bathroom and looked at the face that stared back at him in the mirror.

�Ugh,� he muttered. �Nice breath,� he added as he frowned and reached for a crusty toothbrush.

Only the growling in his paunch kept him from crawling once more beneath the covers, coupled with the painful knowledge that without a paycheck the cupboard would stand ever more bare and stay that way indefinitely.

�Life blows,� he mumbled, scratching peanut butter onto the last nub of bread from a week-old loaf.

Throughout the day, as he most often did, Jerry ran the gamut of emotions, up, down, high, low, from the heavens to the depths, like a yo-yo.

His burst of creativity left him giddy only to morph into a morbid employment dread when the boss shot down his idea.

Jerry rode hard, dominated by one feeling after another, unable to separate or manage or compartmentalize�a black and white tango that left no room for gray.

Upon arrival at home, Jerry walked straight to the mailbox and stood in ritual, leafing through the daily arrivals.

�What?� he exclaimed, a sudden burst of exhilaration.

The envelope read U.S. Treasury across the top.

He ripped it open and began a disjointed funky chicken on the sidewalk.

�Pay to the order of ME�you know that�s right,� he grunted as he spied his income tax refund.

His bliss came to a jarring halt as he recognized the handwriting on an oversized card beneath the check.

She hadn�t retued his calls in several days and though he had tried not to over-analyze, the sinking torment in his gut spoke volumes of his suspicions.

He tore the flap.

Dear Jerry,
This is the hardest thing I�ve ever done�

He sank to the ground, sat on his front lawn with his head in his hands, frozen. Numbness tued to anger tued to denial, to sorrow and into frustration, to a desire to regain numbness and a quest for his favorite bottle. The unexpected funds mattered little if at all.

Jerry found himself on the couch, alone, with no more company than his misery and his muse.

�Why does this always happen to me?� he questioned.

�Why can�t I catch a break? Why can�t I spend some time in cruise mode�live a normal space, mellow, stable, even keel�for at least a minute?�

He knew himself well enough not to expect an answer.

He had made this query many times before.

�Why can�t I balance better? Why can�t my pain and pleasure co-exist? Not like she hasn�t discarded me before�why does the rejection so over-shadow my good fortune? Why don�t I have any control?�

Still, he persisted, like a dog on a bone.

�If I�m me, then I need to accept me, feast or famine Jerry, the good and the bad, over the top to rock bottom�that�s me.�

A slight smile retued.

�Yup. That�s me,� he reassured himself. �In my sorrow, I�ll find joy. In my hurt, I�ll dig up some love. That�s me, yo-yo Jerry.�

He stopped nursing the bottle, set it on the coffee table and picked up the stack of mail, all except the card.

�Yup,� he repeated. �Not bad, not bad.�

He grinned and started laughing.

�Yeah, baby. Pay to the order of��

That�s A View From The Ridge�

About The Author

Author Ridgely Goldsborough invites you to subscribe to The Daily Column, a heart-felt collection of stories that inspire hope and courage. Please do so at www.aviewfromtheridge.com.

ridge@aviewfromtheridge.com

There is a story about a little girl who suffered from a serious disease. Her best chance of recovery would be to receive a blood transfusion from her five-year old brother.

The doctor explained the situation to the little brother. He asked the boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.

The young boy hesitated for a brief moment. Then he took a deep breath and said, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save my sister's life."

During the transfusion, the boy lay in the bed next to his sister. He smiled when he saw color retuing to her cheeks. Then his smile started to fade, and his face grew pale.

With a trembling voice, he looked up at the doctor and asked, "Will I start to die now already?"

The little boy had misunderstood the doctor's explanation. He thought that he would need to give all of his blood to save his sister, and he would have done so.

Moving from Resolution to Commitment

The realization of our goals, dreams, and deepest desires depends greatly on commitment, stepping from the familiar into the new. It requires putting our faith on the line to honor our purpose, our personal contract with life. We make resolutions and carry them with us until we commit firmly. Once we commit and begin taking the necessary actions, resolutions become unnecessary.

Without commitment, we remain chained to resolutions and visions, living perpetually beyond the present moment. Though we need to envision with gratitude our goals and their attainment, it is now we must take action. Only in the present moment will we realize the soul's tremendous courage to follow our own true north -- to manifest the reason we are alive.

The Courage to Serve

Rollo May wrote, "The aco becomes an oak by means of automatic growth; no commitment is necessary...But a man or woman becomes fully human only by his or her choices and his or her commitment to them. People attain worth and dignity by the multitude of decisions they make from day to day. These decisions require courage."

Commitment is the beginning of service to others. Making a commitment often requires that we release fear. We need to look clearly at things we would rather not see or accept. I believe courage arises ultimately from love. The courage to serve is inspired by the faith to serve not only the self but also all of humankind.

In the words of Henry van Dyke (1852-1933), "Faith is an adventure; it is the courage of the soul to face the unknown. But that courage springs from the hope and confidence of the soul that its adventure will succeed." Faith and commitments to service can inspire the hope and confidence in each other that our human family needs.

An Outpouring of Love and Compassion

Today, we are witnessing a tremendous outpouring of love and compassion for those in Asia who have endured unimaginable, heartbreaking devastation and loss. Tears flow and prayers are spoken for people we have never met.

Commitments to service and selfless acts of love are taking place globally on an unprecedented scale. Even in extreme tragedy, our "courage of the soul" that Henry van Dyke mentioned flourishes around the globe as many nationalities join together to help those in need.

At a human level, we do not understand why we must suffer. We cannot remove the pain or reunite all of the grieving families. Only God will do that. However, our commitments can make life-changing differences.

Commitments that Make a Difference

We must first be acutely aware that we are not guaranteed the next ten minutes on this earth. We can grow in appreciation for the sanctity of life and realize how capable we are of reaching out with empathy and authentic compassion.

We can also commit to honor the worth and dignity of all fellow humans, serving and supporting them in times of need. All of us can serve -- if not with donations, with acts of kindness and prayer. It is a choice we must make for the future of our planet. It is a commitment to serve and be responsible for the welfare of each other.

� Copyright by Steve Brunkhorst. Steve coaches people to help them revitalize their inner spark, access their natural talents, and design strategies to reach their personal and professional goals. Get the next issue of Steve's ezine, Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration, by visiting http://AchieveEzine.com

Do you start out with faith in God or do you have to be inspired to search for Him? Where does the inspiration to believe in God come from? It seems everyone has an answer, but which answer is right?

I believe it depends on who is asking the question. If you are a person that is well grounded in your religious beliefs then faith probably comes first. If you are searching for God, then perhaps you need to be inspired to help you find your way.

I like to believe that we are all inspired to find our faith in God. To me it is a natural human instinct perhaps facilitated by an inbo genetic code or gene. I like to believe that the inspiration to find God comes from the Almighty Himself.

I think the inspiration comes from our need to experience God�s grace, to find inner peace, and to develop a sense of serenity. I think it comes from our need to seek God�s help in coping with our problems. I think it comes from a desire to believe that there is something more to our lives than the short span of our own mortality. I think it comes from a need to be assured that there is a Heaven.

Whatever inspires us to find our faith in God; the fact is that we do have the need to believe. Most of us have to believe in a higher power to make our lives tolerable. We want to have faith because it helps us achieve inner peace of mind. We are inspired to have faith because we want to succeed in our jouey to find God.

May God grant us the strength and the inspiration and the faith to succeed in our search on a jouey that never ends � the search to find God. ***

Arthur Levine is the author of the Faith Patch Manual and The Magic Of Faith. Please visit his Web sites to get inspired to continue your search for God at: http://www.faith-patch.com and http://www.Faith123.com or his blog at: http://searchfor-god.blogspot.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arthur_Levine

Inspiration for a better future lies in a secret experience from your past which will energize your present and clearly define your future.

You've been busy lately. You've sought for a new direction, because for the first time in your life you really want the years ahead to count. My hope for you is, as you read of my experience, you will be inspired to take a similar path and make your future years the most meaning-filled of your life.

In keeping with the biblical direction to "Ask and ye shall receive" I have recently given time to finding real meaning in my life, eventhough I should have completed this task years ago.

I've made an amazing discovery.

Your life, and mine, is filled with a series of what I have called Refining Moments. In the middle of these is one KRM or Key Refining Moment. When discovered this KRM brings a flood of understanding of the meaning for your life and enables you to release a special talent to be a blessing to others.

In my moing prayer time in the forest at the back of our home I had been asking the Lord, for some months, to reveal the meaning and purpose for my life. Once I was prepared to wait forever for an answer,it came. In a most unexpected way. Some have said that you should be careful what you pray because sooner or later you will get what you pray for. I did.

I was reminded of an experience I had just after my fourth birthday.

Filled with expectation my mother was taking me to the State Fair. A visit to the Animal Nursery was promised and once again I'm back there, getting off the tram, with a beaming smile, being led by the hand to the ticket office where my Mother purchases our tickets.

I can see the bulls in the main arena and the colored tents in sideshow alley. I hear the drums summoning patrons to new and exciting experiences inside the tents.

And now I see a group of kids. Some in wheelchairs. Some standing. But all with bodies twisting and twitching in ways I had never seen before. Noticing my rising alarm, my Mother tells me they are the special kids from the Spastic Center.

As she explains that they will always be that way I begin to sob. Buckets of tears cascade down my little pink cheeks as I think of their suffering. I fall to the ground sobbing even harder unable to control myself.

I feel a pain deep on the inside and I want to get away from this place. I plead with my Mother to take me home. It seems to take a long time but eventually she walks me back to the tram terminus.

As we begin the jouey home one thought floods my mind.

I want to help make them better.

As I retu, across 53 years of life experience, from my time of reflection on the past, I realize that my central desire is still to help make them better.

I havn't done it yet but I want to. There is a fire in my desire.

I have been a bank teller, an economist, a teacher, and a youth worker but still I havn't gotten started. I'm sad I've yet to start. I guess that's a common experience for a babyboomer. However I am glad I discovered why I'm here on this planet.

In this Key Refining Moment I have understood my reason for being and the only action that will add real meaning to my life.

I have been inspired to fulfill my calling to "help make them better".

You can have your own Key Refining Moment. In eaest prayer ask and you will receive. Once you've received make sure to follow through and complete your special calling.

You will get inspiration for a lifestyle improvement .Use your secret experience from your past and it will energize your present and clearly define your future with wave upon wave of meaning.

You will finally have an answer to the age-old question, "What is the meaning of life?"

Kenneth Little is a success coach and the publisher of a re-released classic, in a revealing ebook, that will show you how to get the best of health and wealth out of all your future years. True success will be yours no matter what your age.

Amazing "How I Became Young at Sixty" brings renewed strength to your body, hope to your mind and increased prosperity to your lifestyle.==> http://www.Young-at-Sixty.com

There are discoveries all around us—small gifts of joy that bring moments of peace and renewal.

Yet it is easy to miss the small things of uncommon value and inspiration—the cycles of life in a thriving forest, the perfection of a brilliant flower, the purposefulness of a delicate butterfly, or the spiritual beauty within another soul.

If we would stop for only a moment to marvel at this blessing of life, we would find many heart-stirring discoveries where we least expect them.

A small shift in the way we view a situation can make a life-changing difference.

A purposeful change in perspective can spark a sense of freedom, spiritual vision, and peace of mind. It can uncover a life purpose that has gone undetected. It can heal a hurt that has burdened someone for years.

Take time to listen to the emotion in the voice of a friend, feel the warmth of the sunshine, or view the perfect design in the smallest leaf or a cluster of stars.

Become still.

Listen to the voice inside your heart without judging its message. What does it tell you?

Notice and acknowledge your feelings around any situation that might trouble you.

Then ask yourself, "How could I view this situation differently? What new perspective might tu this into a blessing for me or someone else?"

You will be pleased with the sense of freedom and peace it brings to you.

A lifetime of rewarding discoveries is waiting for all who will stop, look, and listen with faith.

� Copyright by Steve Brunkhorst. All rights reserved. Reprinted from Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration, a popular ezine bringing great stories and inspiring thoughts to brighten your day. Find many colorful inspirational nuggets to share with your friends by visiting http://www.AchieveEzine.com/nuggets/

I never thought I would get a personal audience with God, and then it happened.

I couldn�t believe it when I got the message emblazoned on a rainbow of my dreams. God had decided to grant me an audience.

Oh the joy of it. I trembled in anticipation. I have been longing to have a personal meeting with God, and now it was happening.

My mind seemed scrambled in anticipation. What would I ask Him? I had so many questions. Here is a short list I came up with. One doesn�t want to take too much of God�s precious time:

1. Dear God will I be accepted in Heaven?

2. Dear God will you protect me from evil?

3. Dear God have I been a good person in your eyes?

4. Dear God will you hear my prayers?

5. Dear God will you grant me my wishes?

6. Dear God can I count on your blessing?

7. Dear God will you grant me good health?

8. Dear God will you help me defeat my enemies?

9. Dear God will you keep me from being lonely?

10. Dear God will you accept me as a Person of Faith?

God smiled at me and chuckled. He wanted to know why I assumed that he had all the answers?

I didn�t know what to say. I stuttered and stammered and finally in a hoarse voice that sounded more like a mummer I managed to tell Him that it was because I believed in Him and believed that He had all the answers.

At this point God laughed. The whole night�s sky seemed to light up with his merriment, and he told me that He would answer my questions as follows:

1. If you believe in me you have assured yourself of a place in my Heaven and of your dreams.

2. If you have faith in me as all-powerful, I will protect you from evil.

3. If you believe in me, how could I conceive of you as being anything other than a good person?

4. I hear your prayers and know your fears now as I always have, and those of all people who believe in me.

5. I will grant your wishes if they are in the public good.

6. You have my blessing as do all people of faith.

7. I will grant you the health and strength to believe in me and in your future.

8. Your enemies will be my enemies and since I love all mankind, I know no enemies, and neither will you.

9. You are not alone any more, for now you have found me, and I am always with you.

10. I accept you as a Person of Faith if you can lea to believe in me and be inspired by what you cannot see or understand.

And with that last statement God was gone and my audience was over in a flash of blazing glory.

But I accept that God is never gone from our midst and believe that he is always with us, do you? Are you a Person of Faith?

Do you believe in what you cannot see or comprehend?

Would you like a personal audience with God?

Do you have enough faith to believe in his presence?

Hurry, God may be waiting to hear from you!

Please feel free to use this article as long as credit is given to the resource box. (C) Copyright Arthur Levine 2006

Arthur Levine is a columnist for the Religion and Spirituality Forum of United Press Inteational, and the author of the Faith Patch Manual. To discover seven secrets of how to find more faith and preview the book, please access: http://www.faith-patch.com/stp/10answers