Wednesday, June 10, 2009

YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!


What happens when you open you cellular phone bill and see a $4000.00 bill? No, not $40.00 or $400.00 bill but $4000.00. Well, today I opened our bill and saw just that. Now I know what it's like to have a PANIC ATTACK! You hyperventilate, sweat, your heart races and then you look at the clock to see what time it is...Still have time to get to the ~~~~~Store.

Warren, the manager, held HIS chest when he saw it! Then immediately got on the phone to speak to Corporate. Yes, I had been fraudulently charged for 7, yes 7, $600.00 phones. And from where, you may ask, were these phones purchased? Phoenix, AZ. I live in IN!

The company was very generous and kind. Calmed all my fears and will be investigating. Whe asked how often they had to investigate such things the young man simply said, "I have job security." How very sad! Not that he has job security...that there are that many dishonest people in the world.

This indeed was an eye-opening experience. And though I am laughing now, all I can say is,
"THANKS BE TO GOD!!!"






Picture by Mobigates

Monday, June 08, 2009

The Tale of the Seed


The Seed

A successful business man was growing old and
knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business.
Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children,
he decided to do something different. He called all the young
executives in his company together.

He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO.
I have decided to choose one of you. "The young executives were
Shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one
of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant
the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with
what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then
judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be
the next CEO."

One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others,
received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the
story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted
the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had
grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began
to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.

Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.
Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing.
By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have
a plant and he felt like a failure.
Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he
had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but
he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however.
He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - He so wanted the
seed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company
brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.
Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot.
But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick
to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment
of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot
to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety
of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful --
in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and
many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young
executives.

Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees,
and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will
be appointed the next CEO!"

All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with
his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to
the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a
failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"

When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened
to his seed - Jim told him the story.

The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim,
and then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next
Chief Executive Officer!

His name is Jim!" Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow
his seed.

"How could he be the new CEO?" the others said.

Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this
room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it,
and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds;
they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow.

All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and
flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you
substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the
only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with
my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new
Chief Executive Officer!"

* If you plant honesty, you will reap trust

* If you plant goodness, you will reap friends

* If you plant humility, you will reap greatness

* If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment

* If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective

* If you plant hard work, you will reap success

* If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation

* If you plant faith in God , you will reap a harvest

~~~^j^~~~

For Friends and lessons they share
Thanks be to God!!!




Friday, June 05, 2009

What's In a Name?

A reflection I came upon today. I wish to share it with you as we begin the weekend.

[After healing and teaching many people the disciples, whom Jesus had sent out,] came back in great joy. "Lord," they said, "even the demons obeyed us when we gave them a command in your name!" ~Luke 10:17~

An American tourist was walking down a deserted rural road in Germany. She came upon a shepherd grazing sheep. A dog was diligently guarding the flock. "What's the dog's name?" she asked.

I'll spell it for you," said the shepherd. "I don't like to say it out loud unless I have something for him to do."

The shepherd's comment reminds us of how personal and powerful a name is. People in biblical times held names in extra-special reverence so it's no surprise that Jesus' name--when invoked--had power over demons

How aware am I of the power of the name of Jesus? How reverently do I use Jesus' name?

The Name of Jesus is honey for the mouth, music for the ear and gladness for the heart. ~Saint Bernard of Clairvaux~

from Vision 2000
Praying Scripture in a Contemporary Way
by Mark Lind, S.J.

We're off to INDY this weekend to celebrate Lindsey's 5th birthday early and deliver baby crib and nursery items to Marianne and Eric. Everyone have a grand weekend.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Thursday, June 04, 2009

Trust it to Providence

My journey to Providence has been, thus far, one of enlightenment and self-knowledge. But the last two days I have been reminded repeatedly in word and deed about God's gentle hand that nudges us if we only will respond to it.

My visit with Sister Dorothy yesterday was fulfilling. The quotes I posted yesterday and today, too are reminders of His ever presence.

Take time today and reflect on the providence of God in your life. It is truly grand and exciting to remember how he has journeyed with us.

~~~~~~

Thanks be to God!


Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Road to Providence

Taken at Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods
October, 2006


Tomorrow I again travel to Sullivan to meet with Sr. Dorothy. As my companion on this journey we will be discussing "Relationships and Commitment." During the sojourn of this subject, I was to journal for the month, reflecting on my life's encounters. First, I really dislike keeping a journal. (Odd since I do so enjoy blogging.) It's not that I have not tried...I have several journals I have started, writing a page or two in them, and then quit. It was too much like work.
Secondly, procrastination is one of my flaws and I had not kept a daily journal as I was supposed to. So here is the miracle. Sr. Dorothy called last month to tell me she would be on retreat when were due to meet and would have to wait until next month (June) to meet. I was soooooooo relieved. Just like a child I was giddy! I had a second chance. I did journal. Not every day, but I did do the reflections and learned a good deal more about myself than I had known before I did the journal reflections.

Indeed, the mercy of God had intervened. I still do not like to journal (maybe it's the pen, ink, and paper part of the writing). Because (I'm laughing at myself, out loud here) isn't what I'm doing now writing in a journal? Perhaps, it's the validation, critique, live response that makes blogging different. At any rate, journal or blog, I enjoy the blog so much more!

~~~^j^~~~

God bless you
and
thanks be to God for
Second Chances!