You know when I was on my back recovering from my surgery earlier this year, I spent a lot of time reading. Hey, it was the easiest thing that didn’t make me have to move or be uncomfortable and it kept my mind moving forward. I want share something that I read and provide the view I take from it. The passage was from a meditation book that I was reading to provide me with a little healthy posture, breathing, and exercises that I what not to assist me with my healing process. The statement was probably written by the author to emphasis a single, quick point that was foreshadowed by all the other elements of the book, but it stuck with me. So, here is the passage:
“The more we learn to let go and live with the changing things of this world as they are, the more we live in peace.” – Jack Kornfield, The Beginner’s Guide to Buddhism
Let me repeat that in my own words, “To learn to let go and realize that the world is an ever changing thing can bring peace.” Now, that is what I read. Does that say “to let go” means that one should never go forward in the pursuit of a better condition than what is before them. I do not think that is the meaning behind the statement at all. What is being offered is that to understand that the earth, the environment in which we live, the social climate, the fabric of our lives are all ever-evolving things. Always growing with or developing because of the external forces around. Like the “domino effect” happening all the time. The heart of the meaning lies in our personal decision to “accept change” and to understand that changes will occur on this road of life. Whether we like it or not, things are never the same. Sure, we can try to make ourselves feel better by saying “it has always been like that”. There might seem like historical consistencies are always there and probably are, but that is only when look on the surface of things and never travel far enough into the topic to realize the inconsistencies. Media plays on that fact. Politicians prey on it. The sooner one realizes that changes will and do occur, the sooner a peaceful mind can choose to understand the changes, accept them for what they are, adapt to the part of the changes that effect us as individuals, and overcome as necessary. It is not a numbing effect, but an educated awareness that frees you from the fear of the unknown. It is this thought process that prepares us for whatever arrives on our doorstep. And, the more prepared we are, the more we can help others prepare. Which sounds to me like the beginning of “unity” which is always a good thing!
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Thursday, December 07, 2006
America Supports You: Sears Helps Show Troops USA Cares
Passed on from Samantha L. Quigley, American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2006 - Holiday shoppers turning to the Internet to avoid the mall crowds have an easy way to support servicemembers and their families this year thanks to a partnership between Sears Holdings Corporation and "USA Cares."
USA Cares is a Defense Department program highlighting ways Americans and the corporate sector support the nation's military. Sears Holdings is the parent company of Sears and Kmart department stores.
"Sears has a longstanding commitment with the military, and we feel privileged to assist the troops and their families through this initiative," Brenda Storch, a Sears Holdings spokeswoman, said. "We wanted to partner with a respected organization that would help us to ensure that military families are remembered this holiday season."
Sears officials found what they were looking for in USA Cares, which provides assistance to members of the armed forces and their families who have unmet needs because of death, injury, physical or mental impairment, or financial hardship.
Through the partnership, Sears customers can visit a special Web site, www.readysetholiday.com, established for the holiday season. "It seemed as though it would be a good way to involve our customers in helping military families through the holidays," Storch said.
The Web site provides a wish list of items that can be purchased and shipped directly to USA Cares, Roger Stradley, one of the group's founders and director of operations, said. Once all of the purchases are received at USA Cares' Radcliff, Ky., office, they'll be sorted and sent to areas where they'll do the most good. For instance, a lot of the cold-weather clothing will go to Alaska.
The gifts range in price from about $9 to a couple hundred dollars and include clothes and household items. Gift cards also may be purchased in lieu of a gift.
"USA Cares does not get any cash," Stradley said. "We're just coordinating and helping facilitate (for) hopefully thousands of Americans that want to just say thanks to a guy or a gal who's wearing the uniform or their family."
Sears Holdings kicked the program off with a donation of $10,000 in gift cards when the program started Nov 26. Since then, USA Cares has received a couple of boxes a day. "It's kind of like Christmas," Stradley said. "We pop it open to see what came."
It doesn't matter to the folks at USA Cares whether a donor chooses a gift or a gift card to show their support of the military community.
"I want whatever that person's heart is moved to send," he said. "Obviously gift cards make it a little easier, especially if your heart is that you want to help a (Guardsman) or reservist who might not be near a major installation."
The site will remain active through Christmas day. USA Cares staff and volunteers will tackle distributing the items after the first of the year, Stradley said.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2006 - Holiday shoppers turning to the Internet to avoid the mall crowds have an easy way to support servicemembers and their families this year thanks to a partnership between Sears Holdings Corporation and "USA Cares."
USA Cares is a Defense Department program highlighting ways Americans and the corporate sector support the nation's military. Sears Holdings is the parent company of Sears and Kmart department stores.
"Sears has a longstanding commitment with the military, and we feel privileged to assist the troops and their families through this initiative," Brenda Storch, a Sears Holdings spokeswoman, said. "We wanted to partner with a respected organization that would help us to ensure that military families are remembered this holiday season."
Sears officials found what they were looking for in USA Cares, which provides assistance to members of the armed forces and their families who have unmet needs because of death, injury, physical or mental impairment, or financial hardship.
Through the partnership, Sears customers can visit a special Web site, www.readysetholiday.com, established for the holiday season. "It seemed as though it would be a good way to involve our customers in helping military families through the holidays," Storch said.
The Web site provides a wish list of items that can be purchased and shipped directly to USA Cares, Roger Stradley, one of the group's founders and director of operations, said. Once all of the purchases are received at USA Cares' Radcliff, Ky., office, they'll be sorted and sent to areas where they'll do the most good. For instance, a lot of the cold-weather clothing will go to Alaska.
The gifts range in price from about $9 to a couple hundred dollars and include clothes and household items. Gift cards also may be purchased in lieu of a gift.
"USA Cares does not get any cash," Stradley said. "We're just coordinating and helping facilitate (for) hopefully thousands of Americans that want to just say thanks to a guy or a gal who's wearing the uniform or their family."
Sears Holdings kicked the program off with a donation of $10,000 in gift cards when the program started Nov 26. Since then, USA Cares has received a couple of boxes a day. "It's kind of like Christmas," Stradley said. "We pop it open to see what came."
It doesn't matter to the folks at USA Cares whether a donor chooses a gift or a gift card to show their support of the military community.
"I want whatever that person's heart is moved to send," he said. "Obviously gift cards make it a little easier, especially if your heart is that you want to help a (Guardsman) or reservist who might not be near a major installation."
The site will remain active through Christmas day. USA Cares staff and volunteers will tackle distributing the items after the first of the year, Stradley said.
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