Tag: peace

Posted in Family and Society, Life, Random Thoughts, Stories Around the World

When Shared, then Found

Posted on by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

“If you want happiness for an hour — take a nap.’
If you want happiness for a day — go fishing.
If you want happiness for a year — inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime — help someone else.”
Chinese Proverb

One of the gifts of the holiday season is the delightful art of bringing that smile on the faces around us. With all the carol singing, Christmas games at the retirement and palliative homes, the local teen and youth community had an engaging and meaningful Christmas time. A week later while reviewing the photographs and write-ups in the community newsletter, the happy accounts and candid moments brought a smile from within the heart.

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” Buddha

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Many a time, happiness is accounted by the gifts accumulated, places visited, accolades and awards received and other social markers (as perceived by society) obtained. Yet the reality is far from that. True that all these achievements and more, may bring some amount of pleasure and joy; but does it ever last.

Doing and scoring for oneself brings only meaning at the height of achievement. If there aren’t any who really share in our happiness from within, it holds no meaning. Yet bringing a smile on a stranger’s face by saying “thank you” or offering assistance to a mother with a struggling toddler to help with their grocery cart in the long queue; these hold a wealth of meaning as they bring a smile from the bottom of the heart.

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Truly being happy is never by capturing the butterfly, but allowing it to fly and share the colours it has along the path it takes, bringing smiles of happiness, peace, joy and contentment everywhere.

FIND HAPPINESS
Once a group of 50 people were attending a seminar. Suddenly the speaker stopped and decided to do a group activity. He started giving each attendee one balloon. Each one was asked to write his/her name on it using a marker pen. Then all the balloons were collected and put in another room.

Now these delegates were let into that room and asked to find the balloon which had their name written within 5 minutes. Everyone was frantically searching for their name, colliding with each other, pushing around others and there was utter chaos.

At the end of 5 minutes no one could find their own balloon. Now each one was asked to randomly collect a balloon and give it to the person whose name was written on it. Within minutes everyone had their own balloon.

The speaker then began, “This is happening in our lives. Everyone is frantically looking for happiness all around, not knowing where it is.

Our happiness lies in the happiness of other people. Give them their happiness; you will get your own happiness. And this is the purpose of human life…the pursuit of happiness.”

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Posted in Life, Personal Musings, poetry, Random Thoughts

Silent and Treasured

Posted on by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

Last week saw impromptu weekday walks with the family, most during the early evenings before the dusk gives way to the darkness of the night. While the basic purpose was to complete the requirement for the nature projects of my kids, these walks saw the quietness of nature at their best. School secrets were shared, ideas were discussed and explored and above all, one was listening for the notes in the silence.

“Keep silent, because the world of silence is a vast fullness.” Rumi

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Through the silence of the walks and stillness, one learnt to appreciate the gifts around them. Besides refreshing oneself, this stillness helps one to rejuvenate their thoughts and start off fresh. Many a time, one forgets to appreciate the silent blessing s and gifts showered on one, if one is constantly clamouring for the busy thoughts or caught in the chaos of the day. To break free and find some foothold in the melee, one needs to escape to few impromptu and sudden periods of silence to refresh and rediscover oneself. Yet discernment is required at all times. Certain things are best heard when one is silent; while some things require the silence to be broken. Knowing which is which will happen as the maturity grows over time.

“Everything that’s created comes out of silence. Thoughts emerge from the nothingness of silence. Words come out of the void. Your very essence emerged from emptiness. All creativity requires some stillness.” Wayne Dyer

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Voices of the Air

But then there comes that moment rare
When, for no cause that I can find,
The little voices of the air
Sound above all the sea and wind.

The sea and wind do then obey
And sighing, sighing double notes
Of double basses, content to play
A droning chord for the little throats—

The little throats that sing and rise
Up into the light with lovely ease
And a kind of magical, sweet surprise
To hear and know themselves for these—

For these little voices: the bee, the fly,
The leaf that taps, the pod that breaks,
The breeze on the grass-tops bending by,
The shrill quick sound that the insect makes.
– Katherine Mansfield

Katherine Mansfield, “Voice of the Air,” from Poems (London: Constable, 1923 and New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1924).

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Posted in Life, Personal Musings, poetry

Choices They Be

Posted on by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

“All things are ready, if our mind be so.” William Shakespeare

Entering into the first few hours of the fresh year, the anticipation runs high as numerous hopes, dreams and thoughts run through the mind. Amidst all these are the subtle changes that will be made over time. To know which change or decision is right, requires one to acknowledge the basic facts at hand, put a whole lot of thought processing to work as well as to with the innate gut instinct with humaneness in it.

“May you listen to the voice within the beat even when you are tired. When you feel yourself breaking down, may you break open instead. May every experience in life be a door that opens your heart, expands your understanding and leads you to freedom.” Elizabeth Lesser

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Till date, one can never predict how the future will be to the point. As plans are made and decisions made, knowing that things mayn’t go as per the proper plan is important. Some plans may work, other not so. Some dreams may be crushed due to unforeseeable circumstances, while others may be affected by situations to a manner which may be unjust. Either way, unless one learns to battle the tide and cross the shores, the horizon over may just be a vision in distance. As we cross our respective shores, may each one of us learn to ring out the “right” old and ring in the “right new”.

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Ring Out, Wild Bells

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

Alfred Tennyson

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Posted in Christian, Random Thoughts, Stories Around the World

Twelve Days On

Posted on by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

“For Christmas is tradition time—
Traditions that recall
The precious memories down the years,
The sameness of them all.”
Helen Lowrie Marshall

With the Christmas bells still ringing on, the festive feeling still runs on. With all the family gathered at the homestead yesterday, the laughter, food and music were in the air. To pass the time before the dinner, the carol game of recall and forfeit was played (more of a family Christmas tradition) among the teens and the adults in the group.

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Interestingly, one of the most popular Christmas carols, “The Twelve of Christmas” was believed to have originated as a children’s memory and forfeit game. As per the song, the twelve days start with Christmas Day or the day after Christmas (Boxing Day or St. Stephen’s Day, the feast day of St. Stephen Protomartyr) to the day before Epiphany or the Feast of the Epiphany (6 January, the Twelfth Day). The eve of the Epiphany is formerly the last day of the Christmas festivities and observed as a time of merrymaking”. Epiphany formerly celebrates the revelation of the God prophesy of Christ. Historical evidence and records point to the North of England, specifically the area around Newcastle upon Tyne, as the origin of the carol somewhere around the early 18th century (approx.1714) onward.

“This piece is found on broadsides printed at Newcastle at various periods during the last hundred and fifty years. On one of these sheets, nearly a century old, it is entitled “An Old English Carol,” but it can scarcely be said to fall within that description of composition, being rather fitted for use in playing the game of “Forfeits,” to which purpose it was commonly applied in the metropolis upwards of forty years since. The practice was for one person in the company to recite the first three lines; a second, the four following; and so on; the person who failed in repeating her portion correctly being subjected to some trifling forfeit.”
Husk, 1864 ( Cecil J. Sharp, A. G. Gilchrist and Lucy E. Broadwood, “Forfeit Songs; Cumulative Songs; Songs of Marvels and of Magical Animals,” Journal of the Folk-Song Society, Vol. 5, No. 20 (November 1916), p. 280.)

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Another reference to the popular Christmas carol can be traced as a Christmastime game played before supper. As written by Lady Gomme (1898), “The Twelve Days” was a Christmas game. It was a customary thing in a friend’s house to play “The Twelve Days,” or “My Lady’s Lap Dog,” every Twelfth Day night. The party was usually a mixed gathering of juveniles and adults, mostly relatives, and before supper — that is, before eating mince pies and twelfth cake — this game and the cushion dance were played, and the forfeits consequent upon them always cried. The company were all seated round the room. The leader of the game commenced by saying the first line. […] The lines for the “first day” of Christmas was said by each of the company in turn ; then the first “day” was repeated, with the addition of the “second” by the leader, and then this was said all round the circle in turn. This was continued until the lines for the “twelve days” were said by every player. For every mistake a forfeit — a small article belonging to the person — had to be given up. These forfeits were afterwards “cried” in the usual way, and were not returned to the owner until they had been redeemed by the penalty inflicted being performed.”

As this song evolved as an English Christmas carol as a catechism song for young Catholics, along with the surface meaning, each element in the carol has a link to the Christian faith (although this aspect is highly debatable). As children sang these songs, they could remember the background and principles behind the Christian teachings. Starting with the “True Love” one hears in the song is referenced to baby Christ because truly Love was born on Christmas Day. The partridge in the pear tree also represents Him because that bird is willing to sacrifice its life if necessary to protect its young by feigning injury to draw away predators. The two turtle doves signify the Old and New Testaments while the three French hens stood for faith, hope, and love. As the four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; the five golden rings represent the first five books of the Old Testament, which describe man’s fall into sin and the great love of God in sending a Savior.

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For the words “six geese a-laying” signify the six days of creation. The “Seven swans a-swimming” represented the seven fold gifts of the Holy Spirit—–Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy while the eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes. The “Nine ladies dancing” were the remaining nine fruits of the Holy Spirit which are charity, joy, peace, patience (forebearance), goodness (kindness), mildness, fidelity, modesty and chastity. As remaining of “ten lords a-leaping”, “eleven pipers piping” and the “twelve drummers drumming” symbolize the Ten Commandments, eleven faithful Apostles and the twelve points of belief in The Apostles’ Creed respectively. Although this interpretation is highly debatable, it highlights the fact that there is always a meaning behind each word. 

All in all, these few carols when sung in full swing or even played as a Christmas time game, bring all of us closer in the spirit of love, joy and kindness. For the real Christian faith goes beyond the surface, carrying His Teachings and the principles that guide us through the good times as well as the tough days.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

[Verse 1]
On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree

[Verse 2]
On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree ………

[Verse 12]
On the 12th day of Christmas my true love sent to me
12 drummers drumming
11 pipers piping
10 lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree

Note: “The Twelve Days of Christmas” known today was the arrangement as popularized by Frederic Austin (1909). Original source for the history behind the song : Fr. Calvin Goodwin, FSSP, Nebraska

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Posted in Christian, Daily, Photography Art, poetry

Glow of Peace

Posted on by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

In the wee morning hours, as the church service had come to a close, the rays of dawn had lighted up the chapel hall. The colours of dawn through the glass stained windows had brought a sense of peace within. Through the stillness of winter, those rays bring colour, hope and joy to the gray and dark times.

One of the best parts about His Grace is handing over our troubles of life in His Hands. There is nothing as fulfilling as being blessed with the feeling of quietness and harmony within the soul. Leaving all the mundane worries, trifling matters and sorrows in His Hand, the soul is rested and comforted. Such is due to the blessing being bestowed on man on the blessed day of Christmas.

“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (Luke 1:76-79)

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Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem

Thunder rumbles in the mountain passes
And lightning rattles the eaves of our houses.
Flood waters await us in our avenues.

Snow falls upon snow, falls upon snow to avalanche
Over unprotected villages.
The sky slips low and grey and threatening.

We question ourselves.
What have we done to so affront nature?
We worry God.
Are you there? Are you there really?
Does the covenant you made with us still hold?

Into this climate of fear and apprehension, Christmas enters,
Streaming lights of joy, ringing bells of hope
And singing carols of forgiveness high up in the bright air.
The world is encouraged to come away from rancor,
Come the way of friendship.

It is the Glad Season.
Thunder ebbs to silence and lightning sleeps quietly in the corner.
Flood waters recede into memory.
Snow becomes a yielding cushion to aid us
As we make our way to higher ground.

Hope is born again in the faces of children
It rides on the shoulders of our aged as they walk into their sunsets.
Hope spreads around the earth. Brightening all things,
Even hate which crouches breeding in dark corridors.

In our joy, we think we hear a whisper.
At first it is too soft. Then only half heard.
We listen carefully as it gathers strength.
We hear a sweetness.
The word is Peace.
It is loud now. It is louder.
Louder than the explosion of bombs.

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We tremble at the sound. We are thrilled by its presence.
It is what we have hungered for.
Not just the absence of war. But, true Peace.
A harmony of spirit, a comfort of courtesies.
Security for our beloveds and their beloveds.

We clap hands and welcome the Peace of Christmas.
We beckon this good season to wait a while with us.
We, Baptist and Buddhist, Methodist and Muslim, say come.
Peace.
Come and fill us and our world with your majesty.
We, the Jew and the Jainist, the Catholic and the Confucian,
Implore you, to stay a while with us.
So we may learn by your shimmering light
How to look beyond complexion and see community.

It is Christmas time, a halting of hate time.

On this platform of peace, we can create a language
To translate ourselves to ourselves and to each other.

At this Holy Instant, we celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ
Into the great religions of the world.
We jubilate the precious advent of trust.
We shout with glorious tongues at the coming of hope.
All the earth’s tribes loosen their voices
To celebrate the promise of Peace.

We, Angels and Mortal’s, Believers and Non-Believers,
Look heavenward and speak the word aloud.
Peace. We look at our world and speak the word aloud.
Peace. We look at each other, then into ourselves
And we say without shyness or apology or hesitation.

Peace, My Brother.
Peace, My Sister.
Peace, My Soul.
— Maya Angelou
(Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem)

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Posted in Christian, Personal Musings, Random Thoughts

Tune of the Fesitivity

Posted on by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

“I love the Christmas-tide, and yet,
I notice this, each year I live;
I always like the gifts I get,
But how I love the gifts I give!”
Carolyn Wells

As the hours of Christmas Eve ticked by, the flurry of activity never ceased as the last minute preparations were underway. Ranging from rearranging the set of cookies and assortment to be given to the church, wrapping up the gifts for the children, getting the early preparations for the Christmas lunch tomorrow as well as keeping the house open for last minute carol singers and guests, the list of things to get into order was endless.

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Through all these hours, the willingness to help and share the joy was what kept all our spirits high. And that is what forms the basis of the spirit of Christmas. Not in how much one can receive, but one can give.

“God never gives someone a gift they are not capable of receiving. If He gives us the gift of Christmas, it is because we all have the ability to understand and receive it.” Pope Francis

Each of us have our share from the “Season of Giving”. For that is what makes up the core of Christmas and the miracles of this season. Giving can vary in many forms. From the materialistic gifts of clothing for the orphanages, gifts to those in the poorer sections of society, spending time at the old age homes, bringing cheer to the patients admitted in the local hospitals, nursing homes or the shelters and the list goes on. The essence of Christmas lies in the spirit of giving.

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Through the last hours before Christmas, spreading the cheer starts from within. By the actions we do, the expressions and the vibes we carry. Being human, there may be sparks of negativism or frustration that rise every now and then. Yet learning to quell them down with the joys of sharing the spirit of kindness, love, hope and warmth through the gift of giving would carry more happiness and peace within. In addition to the decor and gaiety of Christmas season, it is the cheer one spread and miracles that happen due to goodwill and humaneness that light up the season in it’s true meaning.

“Oh sweet December,
You bring us Charlie Brown, chestnuts and candy canes,
You add such sweetness to your name
You bring us garland, gingerbread and mistletoe,
You also bring us everything wrapped in a bow
Oh sweet December-you’re so good to us,
You always prepare us for The Christmas fuss”
Charmaine J Forde

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Posted in Christian, Family and Society, Life, Random Thoughts

More than A Chance

Posted on by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

“A little child, a shining star, a stable rude, the door ajar. Yet in that place, so crude, forlorn, the Hope of all the world was born.” Anonymous

As the last Sunday before the Advent approached, the youth group had decided to do a different tree for this year. Along with the tradition of setting up the big Christmas tree, green complete with the tiny ornaments, snow globes, garlands and clumps of holly; the “Jesse Tree” was set up in the central lawn of the chapel. Unlike the elaborately Christmas tree, the Jesse Tree was one of the very old medieval customs to mark and celebrate the gift of the Advent. As per the custom, a tree was selected and during the four weeks leading to the Advent, each day had the teachings and records from the Scriptures, from the Creation to the day of the Advent. With each story, the respective symbol was up on the tree.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14)

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The last week before this Sunday had seen the symbols of water lily, made from fine white crepe paper as well as a miniature painting of the mother and child go up. Numerous symbols adorned the tree ranging from the miniature apple (Adam and Eve) , the rainbow ( story of Noah’s Ark and the flood), the cutout drawing of a tent (God’s promise to Abraham), the ram, multicoloured robe, the six pointed star of “David”, a temple cutout, the scallop shell and the like, were few of the tokens adorning the tree.

Each branch of the Jesse tree is a sign of new beginnings. The first Jesse trees were large carvings, tapestries or even stained glass windows put in Churches that helped illiterate people to learn about the Bible, from the creation to the Christmas Story. These trees today, stay as an Advent calendar, serving to remind each Christian of the promises of His Word and gift of another Chance through the birth of His Son.

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While the significance of the Jesse tree lies in the scriptures of the prophet Isaiah wherein His Promise of new Life and beginnings through His Son Christ. The greatest gift of the Advent is the “gift of His Love”, another chance to receive the fruits of the Spirit as well as the gift of His Grace and His Love. During the times of turmoil, be it from external or internal influences, it is His Promise that helps us gain the courage to survive the ordeal and return strengthened and reinforced in His Love. Let this Advent be another blessing, giving each one their own special gift, miracle as well as memories to hold for a lifetime.

“11 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.”
(Isaiah 11:1-5.King James Version)

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