Tag Archive | sermon

Sunday Homily: Have Faith, Not Hope

Graduating Wolf2 By Springwolf ©  🐾One Powerful Change Of Perspective

Today a friend shared a YouTube video that changed the way I look at the words Faith and Hope. And surprising to me, it came from Jim Carrey’s Commencement Address at the 2014 MUM Graduation. (I’m posting the video below.)

He said something that got me thinking.
Take a chance on faith. Not religion, but faith. Not hope, but faith. I don’t believe in hope. Hope is a beggar. Hope walks through the fire and Faith leaps over it.” ~ Jim Carrey

This week I’ve altered that quote a little bit. I can’t claim it as mine in a copyright; the inspiration and credit still go to Mr. Carrey. But I wanted something that was easier for me to remember and share with others. So here’s what I came up with.
“Have Faith, Not Hope. Hope is a beggar. Faith is a Believer. Hope walks through the fire and Faith leaps over it.” ~ Dr. Vickie Carey 2014

Wow. Hope is a big thing in my thinking. Hope that things will get better; that we will endure the struggles, that we can overcome the challenges. Hope we’ll win the lottery.

If I let go of the begging, as he puts it, what is there? Faith is a belief. And I’m left with: A belief that things will get better. A belief that we will endure the struggles. Belief that we will overcome the challenges. Belief that we WILL win the lottery. Why not?! It has to happen to someone! Continue reading

Happy Mother’s Day – 2014

The Beauty of Mother

The Beauty of Motherhood

Happy Mother’s Day

Motherhood comes in many forms. On two legs, four legs or no legs at all. It’s not something from blood type or heritage. It isn’t found in our atoms or electrons. Mothers aren’t the people who give birth, they’re the people who love, care and nurture.

They are the ones who tend the wounded knee, hug you when your balloon gets loose and flies away, fixes your meals day in and day out, tucks you in at night, or simply calls to find out how you’re doing this week.

I hope you can tell a mother thank you and let her know you appreciate all the things she does. Share some flowers, or plant a rose to let her know you love her all the days through the year.

May you all have a great day, honoring the Mother that has supported you. Including Mother Earth.

~ My Heart And Soul ~
Thank you, Mom
For standing by me through thick and thin,
For not giving up on me when I didn’t win.
For your patience and never-ending support,
For caring when I would sell myself short.

I am grateful knowing…
You’re always there building up my courage,
sharing your wisdom that always encourage.
If I lose my way you help me get back on track,
If my heart breaks, you bring the laughter back. Continue reading

Sunday Homily: The Strength In The Negative

Knave of Swords

Mystic Faery Tarot by Linda Ravenscroft

The Balance of Positive & Negative

What happens when the only things you see in your life are “negative”. Fighting, struggle, animosity and every other bad emotion or perspective seem to be prevalent and always present. Do you ask yourself what am I doing wrong? Why am I being persecuted? Why Me?

How Do You See?
As with all situations in your life,  there are two ways to see the messages present before you. Every event has a positive and negative flow. But that doesn’t necessarily mean all are good and bad at the same time.

Sometimes we forget the negative flow of energy isn’t a “bad” thing. In the pursuit of balance you must have positive and negative energies to make things work. A battery has a positive and negative side, without both you can’t power your electronics. Does that make the negative side a bad side of the battery? Should we be mean to it, or judge it harshly? No, of course not. And that’s true for the situations in our life too.

The Knave Of Swords
The tarot can be a good tool to use in the explanation of this concept. When I picked a card to share this message, the Knave of Swords came forth, so let’s take a look at what she has to share.

The first message starts with the energy of the suit. In this case the Swords. Swords represent Strength & Weakness, Endurance & Struggle, Respect & Animosity. Continue reading

Sunday Homily: Can You Go Back In Time

thepast

Don’t Howl For The Past

Be Gracious For Who You’ve Become

I saw a post today that made me stop and think about my life. “If you could go back in time, where would you be today?”

I have a quote I live by:
You cannot change the past. You can only change the way you allow the past to affect your present and your future.” ~ © 1989 Springwolf 🐾 ~

Your past created the person you are today. If you went back in time and changed one small thing, think about the big things that might be affected or lost in your life now. Are you sure you could live with those changes?

The “bad” things in my past, make me a better counselor for rape and abuse victims in crisis today. I’ve been told by some of those clients that had my personal experiences not been part of the conversation, they would not be here today, fighting to overcome and heal. It’s a humbling compliment, to be honest. Having someone tell you that had you not been raped and beaten up to understand what they are experiencing first hand, can really put a spin on your own past experiences. Could you give up making a difference in someone else’s life because they finally found someone who understands how they feel? Continue reading

Sunday Homily: What Is Metaphysics?

Medicine Wheel by  Ravynne Phelan ©

Medicine Wheel by Ravynne Phelan ©

The Physics of First Principles

In my book, Pagan Metaphysics 101, I share some of the basic foundations of thought behind Metaphysics as a philosophy. Recently I’ve delved into this topic with others who label their path as Metaphysical, but after discussion were not aware of the origins of Metaphysical thought. And in particular, that their views of a “Christ Consciousness” as the foundation of Metaphysics is actually a fairly new evolution of Metaphysical philosophy.

But is that concept accurate? Do these principles come from the essence of Christ teachings? Or are they based in older Pagan concepts? Or could they be even older than that?

The typical path by some I’ve had this discussion with is to start by complaining about yet another spiritual path taking from pagan origins and re-branding it. It’s not the first time nor will it probably be the last time others modify something to fit their views.

Nor is it the only instance of others trying to distance themselves from what has been known before and practiced by pagans long ago. Trying to get away from the “negative” or “dark” practices of paganism isn’t uncommon, even if it’s misconceived. But I don’t think complaining or trying to vilify others is an effective way of educating misconceptions.

Everyone has a right to evolve their thought and views. But it’s also important to remember and understand where those views originated or came from. What inspired them and who brought them into the context in the first place? That’s where I like to begin the journey of Metaphysics. Continue reading

Sunday Homily: Count Your Blessings

Count Your Blessings by Springwolf  © 2014Not Everyone Is As Fortunate As You

We all go through our days taking little things for granted. It’s not unusual, it’s not selfish, it’s not necessarily a bad thing either.

Most people don’t notice how fortunate they are until something breaks or needs to be replaced. If you’re blessed, you simply add an errand to your week and go pick up whatever it was that broke. But not everyone has that luxury. And it’s when you take that for granted, that you may need to be reminded of how blessed you really are.

For some people the toaster that broke yesterday can’t be replaced. There’s no such thing as having an extra $20 to pick up a new cheap toaster at the local discount store. Even that $5 toaster at the local Good Will store is out of reach. That $5 maybe all they have in the world right now, and it’s needed for milk and bread to feed their child. There is no such thing as an “extra” anything to waste on something they don’t absolutely need.

It’s amazing how many times I hear about conversations like this text message on the right. It seems when someone is struggling through every day life, even those around them don’t truly understand what they’re going through. Until they talk about little things that they take for granted. Continue reading

Sunday Homily: Remember Your Pride

Spread A Smile

Smile When You Don’t Feel Like It

Carry Your Happiness With You

I meet people all the time in person, through email or messages, and they share their personal stories of struggle and challenge with me. They talk about feeling lost, feeling as though they’ve hit rock bottom, constantly sad and filled with anger. Not knowing where to turn or go to in order to find help or answers.

I’m blessed with seeing many, if not most of these people go through their “ah-ha” moments as they work forward through issues they never thought they could overcome. They start reading and learning. They begin turning their lives around and making significant changes not only up front in the beginning, but over the long haul with time and effort as well.

I shared something this morning with someone and a little voice said, there are others who need to hear this today. So if you’re one of those people who has had an “ah-ha” moment or you still face challenges and feel that you’re struggling with turning things around in your life, this is for you. Continue reading

A Homily: Observing The Holiday

TinyHouseLightsPagans Living Amongst The Christians

“I’m not Christian, I don’t celebrate Christmas”, “I’m pagan, why should I be forced to celebrate Christmas”, “It’s too hard to tell your extended family that you do not observe their bastardized holiday.”

I received several messages like these over the past few days. For those of us who do not celebrate the Christian Holiday, no matter what time of the year it is, there’s another way to look at spending time with your family members who do.

You go to parties that are given for your relatives and their birthdays. Moments to mark another year older, or an event for celebrating a milestone in their life, such as a graduation, a new job, retirement and so on. Why do you observe those days? It’s not your birthday or your achievement. So why do you participate in those events? Isn’t so you can share in the celebration of what’s important to those you care about? So you can be with your family and friends to create happy memories while they are here with you? Continue reading

Sunday Homily: Mindfulness

mindfulbellBeing Aware

Mindfulness, which, among other things, is an attentive awareness of the reality of things (especially of the present moment). Living in the now and being cognizant of the events you are engaged in at this moment in time.

It’s important to take a moment throughout the day to be Mindful of what you’re thing, how you’re allowing those thoughts to impact what you’re doing and how it resonates with your soul, spiritual mission and mental outlook. Both for a state of being and for a sense of living your beliefs and putting them into practice.

The thoughts you wake up with in the morning create your day. How you think through out the day, create your week. The patterns you develop throughout the month, create your year.

How you think, creates your reality, your health and your life.
Springwolf 🐾 © 2012

It is a state of being where balance and peace within the moment, within the self and being are the center of all things. It’s not just looking at your thoughts, but your present state of attitude and how that translates into the manifestation of actions and reactions.

If you are stressed, anxious or angry, those emotions will translate through you and into your actions. If you’re at peace and mindful of your thoughts, then the energy you create and express will be calm and enlightened. Do you want to yell at the person driving next to you on the highway? Or at the store clerk who’s taking to long to ring up your items? Or is there a way you can translate your spiritual awareness into calm peace and discover why you’re being held up in the first place? Continue reading

A Sunday Homily – Believe In Yourself

Believe In Yourself!

Believe In Yourself!

Learn To Handle The Pressure

It’s not just something ministers try to teach for spiritual enlightenment. It’s also a big part of any competitive sport or business management course. Believing in yourself is a practice that crosses all avenues of life and can provide strength, endurance and success over nearly every challenge we face.

Bob Rotella is a sports psychologist. I learned about him through a Nascar segment that looks at the inner workings of drivers and teams. Yeah, of all places? Yep..even Nascar teams face pressure and challenges to be successful. Bob helps people find their true potential in life, said many of these auto-sports professionals. Many people are “normal” and good at what they do. But many want to take it to the next level. Especially professional athletes. But they’re not the only people who are looking for the keys to success or to help them deal with the pressures of life and attaining the success of their dreams and goals. Continue reading