Archives at Zinester: "Into the light". "I Believe in You!".

It happens every year. As we begin autumn the sun appears on the horizon a little differently.

It reminds me of a small child struggling to get your attention. Scampering around in front of you
tugging, pulling, whining a bit because you won't look, the child just won't give up until you give in.

"What do you want?" you ask. "Can't you see I'm busy right now?"

Then you look. Your heart melts. You stop to listen.

So it is with the sun.

I began to notice when in late afternoon the sun beamed through the window in the kitchen of my home. By chance we were having a late lunch or early dinner and the light was right in my wife's face.

"Do you want to sit here?" I asked.

"No, it feels good," she replied. "It will be winter soon so let the sun shine!"

The next day, heading out early, I took the expressway. Early morning traffic here makes me think I am living in the big city. The slightest thing will cause a backup. Looking ahead I see a sudden surge of brake lights.

"There must be an accident," I say to myself.

Just as I approach a slight curve in the road expecting to find a fender bender, I found there was nothing. Nothing but the sun.

"That's right! It's that time of the year," I said smiling. The sun in early autumn rises to meet that part of the expressway. Drivers unaware find themselves suddenly blinded.

Brake lights flashing, people angered by the inconvenience can be seen pounding their steering wheel, while partially blocking out the sun with their hands.

"What do you want?" I ask the sun. "Can't you see I'm busy right now?"

As I exit the curve I look to my right and see a most incredible sun rising over the mountain. Like the child, it finally had my attention.

"You are beautiful!" I yell out loud. "Thanks, you got my attention."

Over the next few weeks that same scene will be repeated again and again. It isn't the sun, it's the glare on the dirty windows that causes the problem. If everyone would just clear their windshields we wouldn't have this problem each morning.

We could then appreciate the sun more. We could all enjoy the moment together.

How odd. We fear the darkness because we cannot see and curse the light that shows us the way because we are not prepared for it.

Like the man who is burdened by the path he walks blames his worn out shoes but continues on the journey still.

He won't acknowledge the choices he has. He'd rather bemoan his existence than make logical changes.

Either change your shoes or take an easier path paved smooth by others before you.

If you are to journey into the light clean the view so that you can clearly see the beauty of the sun.

When the journey through life becomes difficult it either means you have bravely taken a path less traveled or you are totally unprepared.

May your shoes be well soled and your view clean and bright.

May you journey from darkness and "into the light."

Bob; God Bless you and yours....I find for me it's the smallest of things that make me happy. Not monetary or material things but small things. Watching my cat and dog who are best friends romp and play; a meal I create turn out great; my flowers that God has given me the gift to grow; a good book and warm blankets; the look of love on my husbands face; the laughter of my two boys ages 8 and 11 playing and getting along as brothers should instead of the arguments that that age brings. Sunshine and knowing I'm God's child. Have a great day

Wendy

Dear Bob,
I am happy. Why? because last night I made someone I love laugh. To me, that is one of the greatest measures of success--how much you laugh and how much others around you laugh. In Proverbs 7:22, we are told that a merry heart is good medicine, medical people agree that laughter speeds healing.
I passionately look for clean jokes to send my friends--because from hundreds of miles away; I know they are chuckling!
Wow! Happy and successful. What more can you ask?
The following brought a smile to my face--hope they do yours: (oldies but goodies)

A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, "Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face."

"Yes," the class said.

"Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn't run into my feet?"

A little fellow shouted, "Cause your feet ain't empty."

***
The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray:

"Take only ONE. God is watching."

Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.

A child had written a note, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples

God bless you and Marianne--being a cancer survivor is another reason to laugh--and you BOTH made it through!

Linda

All of my life I have lived for others: my mother, my grandfather, my coaches, my husband, my children....but I have recently taken steps to take my life back, find what it is I am to do and DO IT!

Even so, I feel guilty and wonder if I am just being selfish.

It's especially difficult when I have to tell my sister that I won't "lend" her money and that she should spend her money more wisely or do without.

Every time my son develops a plan that will get his parents back together I ask myself if I should have stayed "for the children?" Maybe he really HAS changed; perhaps he's learned the lesson: hitting, cursing, belittling, playing mind games, etc. only push those you love FARTHER away.

It's unrealistic to go back to college at 39 and start a new career by 42.

Today's article is confirmation that I AM being selfish, but that is not always a bad thing. My sister will survive (we have the same genes); my son will understand in time; I will be the best paralegal the world has seen!! I have always worked hard, I have rarely been happy. I deserve to work hard to be happy.

Because I know God I have joy. Because my heart is good I have peace. Because you allowed God to use you I am now on my way to - dare I say it? - HAPPINESS!!

Emma

Bob,
You asked on a scale of 1 to 10 how happy we are. In my case I can answer
that question. My answer is a 9 1/2. I retired from my job in 2001 and was
able to move back to Missouri just a few miles from where I was born. I now
live out in the country which is where I am happiest. I live alone except
for my two Pomeranian dogs, the wildlife outside, and last but certainly not
least GOD. I believe that I am where I am meant to be. That makes me very
happy. The only thing that would make me happier is if my 5 children could
live closer to me. Who could ask for more than what God has given me. I
can only try to live up to the Christian person that God wants me to be.

My hopes and prayers are with you and your wonderful wife. May you both be
as happy as I am. May you both be where God wants you to be. I feel that
you are doing what God wants you to do. You make others laugh, cry, think,
and pray with your stories. You are doing what you do best which is to
raise people's awareness of the miracles of everyday life.

Your friend in Christ,
Juanita from Stockton, MO.

Dear Bob

I just made up an acronym for SLUMP: Sitting Listening Under Master's Plan.

Now - you don't feel so bad, do you!

God bless you.

Pauline

Dear Bob,
I just read your "the right to be happy" & its really strange how true that is. I've always measured success in how much money a person has, the house the car etc but now I have come to realize that things are great, some things are necessary but I have lots of "things" they're not worth much but it was a comfort to "have" which comes from years of not having much of anything & I find it hard to part with this junk. I've went back to school (I'm 45) this year to take a course that is what I truly want, something that will hopefully make a difference in peoples lives & will truly make me happy but not rich. I go to a private college that is way too expensive for me, & some of my friends think I'm crazy for paying so much to go to this school but I love it & I have made some new friends & I feel for the first time in my life I fit in somewhere even though I'm not the youngest, skinniest, prettiest, smartest person in class it finally doesn't matter. & I have been evicted by my landlord & things are a bit tough I might have to move to a smaller place in an area I didn't want to move to but I realize that I am very lucky compared to many people just in the apt. I'm in now & that really helps. Your story on being happy makes me realize that I don't have to have the money my friends do, the cars etc etc to be happy I just need to find what makes me happy & be happy with what I have even if its not a much as everybody else.
Take care, God bless you & your family
Alice

dear bob,

again i thank you for having a story that was there just for me today. well that's what it feels like. it struck me because i saw myself in it so much in two ways. in the past i was able to work way too many hours in a week, run around chasing happiness thinking i was doing the right thing. believing that all that stress and hard work would pay off later. well it did pay off, but not in the way i anticipated. it paid off when i became totally disabled by an auto-immune disease that will shorten my life considerably. but your story says it perfectly when you say

"It's hard to find happiness in the
slow pace of life doing exactly what you were created to do."

i have never been happier than i am today. i am doing what i was created to do. i am here for God's purpose. i am happy because i found a gift and i am using it to help others. people who are challenged by the same disease as i am and many who have completely different diseases. but we bring people together so that they may offer each other empathy and understanding. it gives my life so much purpose and i am happy. i am happy because i am doing God's work and i am happy because i got off that merry go round of too much work and too much stress. thank you for my story today bob.

marie

Dear Bob: What a wonderful message, it is something I think about everyday. I am a general contractor, building and remodeling homes, and I am totally in love with my profession. The other day I walked out of my temporary office in the garage of a home ready for the remodel, overlooking a beautiful lake in the most pristine area of San Diego County, and I just thank God that he gave me so much enjoyment, and I get paid for the enjoyment!! I appreciate and love my employees, they work so hard, most of them Hispanic, and we are such a team. I am so blessed, I have really nothing to ask for and only praise and thanks for what I have here in life. I can't imagine anything worse than not doing what you love for most of your day. I am truly blessed and thank God everyday. My best to you and Marianne, Allison

Hello to you my friend!! You know, as i read your story, "The right to be happy", i thought about where you wrote that "when we head out into the world, our success is measured by the car we drive, the clothes we wear, the address of our home and the title on our office door", and i think what a truly sad world we live in, huh? How can so many people live for such hollow expectations of themselves? I want to look at them and just holler "WAKE UP!!!" So many people, so blind to reality. I mean, is it so hard for them to just let go and see that the mighty God we serve and that is there to serve us can be so loving, so caring, and all we need to do is have faith in His existence. These are the same people who believe in the Easter Bunny, the tooth fairy, Santa Claus, etc. They can't see them - yet they believe - but can't see how or why Christians believe in our Heavenly Father. I see Him and feel His presence everyday. There is always something in our day that shows His love. I see it in you in every letter i receive. I see it in my friends and family. In nature, and the awesome power even in storms. He is our creator, and that can't be measured in any type of form. We'll never see or feel his presence in our own accomplishments. It is all His will. And i'm sure it was God's will for us to meet through this web page of yours. Thank you my friend, for all blessings you share!! God Bless you and Marianne, today and always.......

Love from Paris, Texas

Nancy

Thank you, Bob, for reminding me that Faith can be the most beautiful thing in my life. I try to remember it, but it is good when the way you wrote about it brings it home.
Good luck with expanding your home. With Faith it will happen.

"I'll see you in my prayers"
Corinne