Words of Inspiration - Part III

Symptoms Of Inner Peace

An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.

A tendency to think and act spontaneously, rather than on fears based on past experiences.

A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others and judging other people.

A loss of interest in conflict.

A loss of the ability to worry.

Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.

Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.

Frequent attacks of smiling.

An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.

Inner Peace is contagious... Pass it on!

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Bearkat77's Beatlemaniac Page
Bearkat77's Tribute to John Lennon
Bearkat77's Tribute to Ringo Starr

A young man was at the end of his rope, seeing no way out, dropped to
his knees in prayer. "Lord, I can't go on," he said. "I have too heavy
of a cross to bear."

The Lord replied, "My son, if you can't bear it's weight, just place your cross inside this room. Then, open that other door and pick out any cross you wish."

The man was filled with relief and said, "Thank you, Lord," and he did as he was told.

Upon entering the other door, he saw many crosses, some so large the tops were not visible. Then, he spotted a tiny cross leaning against a far wall. "I'd like that one, Lord," he whispered.

And the Lord replied, "My son, that is the cross you just brought in."

When life's problems seem overwhelming, it helps to look around and
see what other people are coping with. You may consider yourself far
more fortunate than you imagined.

YOUR CROSS

Whatever your cross, whatever your pain,

There will always be sunshine after the rain.

Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall,

But God's always there to help you through it all.

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Bearkat77's Beatlemaniac Page
Bearkat77's Tribute to John Lennon
Bearkat77's Tribute to Ringo Starr

ANYWAY

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable.
Be honest and transparent anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People who really want help may attack you if you help them.
Help them anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt.
Give the world your best anyway.

~ Mother Teresa ~
"Meditations from a Simple Path"

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"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the worst, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
-- Teddy Roosevelt

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Priceless Gifts

Life holds so many priceless things...
The falling rain, the wind that sings.
Each star on high, each shining moon,
Each sunbeam dancing in your room.

The river as it rushes on,
A sunset as when day is gone.
No wealth can buy a mountain tall -
These priceless things belong to all.

An autumn tree lends beauty rare,
With colored leaves piled everywhere,
As nature wears a glowing smile
To make each day a day worthwhile.

Could anything be quite as dear
As laughing children that we hear?
The gift of friendship that is ours?
The miracle of growing flowers?

Each magic moment, treasured time,
These priceless gifts are yours and mine.

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Bearkat77's Beatlemaniac Page
Bearkat77's Tribute to John Lennon
Bearkat77's Tribute to Ringo Starr

Angels In My Life

There have been angels in my life,
While they haven't arrived with a blast of trumpets
Or a rustle of wings,
I've known them just the same.

They performed their acts in human guise,
Sometimes borrowing the faces of family and friends,
Sometimes in the form of a stranger lending a hand.

You have known them, too,
When just the right word was needed,
When a tiny act of kindness made a great difference.

Or perhaps you heard a voice whispering in the night of sorrow,
The words not quite clear but the meaning unmistakable:
"There is hope, There is hope."

May your angels watch over you
And always keep you safe
And whisper in your ear
To banish hate and fear.

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Bearkat77's Beatlemaniac Page
Bearkat77's Tribute to John Lennon
Bearkat77's Tribute to Ringo Starr

"Your biggest challenge isn't someone else. It's the ache in your lungs and the burning in your legs, and the voice inside you that yells 'CAN'T', but you don't listen. You just push harder. And then you hear the voice whisper 'can'. And you discover that the person you thought you were is no match for the one you really are."
-- Unknown

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An Irish Blessing

May you always have ...
Walls for the wind
A roof for the rain,
Tea beside the fire
Laughter to cheer you,
Those you love near you
And all your heart might desire!

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Live A Happier Life

Next time you wake up, instead of dreading the day ahead, rise and shine and expect something wonderful to happen today!

When you go outside, notice people going about their lives, and wonder to yourself what they're thinking, and if they're happy.

Feel the rain or wind on your face, don't hide from it. Isn't it refreshing?

Smile at everyone you meet. It is a fact that people tend to respond to the look you are wearing on your own face!

Wiggle your toes if you are bored. Be happy that you have toes to wiggle!

Be polite, and say please and thank you. That girl taking your order at the fast food place is a human being too, be nice to her.

When you are eating, really slow down and enjoy every bite of what you are eating! It's good... well, and even if you don't like it, isn't it great that you have food?

Never underestimate yourself! You are always growing and learning. Just because you didn't succeed at something in the past doesn't mean you can't get it right this time around!

Stop complaining about your life. Never take for granted all the joys and freedoms you have. Remember those who have less.

Tell everyone who is important to you how you feel about them! You do not ever want to spend your days regretting things you never told them.

And last but never least, remember that life is about love. Give love when you can, and it will be given to you!

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Bearkat77's Beatlemaniac Page
Bearkat77's Tribute to John Lennon
Bearkat77's Tribute to Ringo Starr

The Journey Of The Soul

Your heart is filled with pain,
Your mind cluttered with confusion.

Pieces of your life fall around you
Like raindrops in a storm.

The path you chose so long ago
Led you straight to hurts door.

Now your weary feet struggle
To find the road back home,
Searching for the places
That love and beauty hide.

Temptations lie in wait all around,
Pulling at your every step,
Waiting for you to slide back
From the chosen, sought for, path.

Emptiness surrounds you,
Confusing your perceptions.
It is difficult to carry on.

I will do my best to fill your heart with joy,
To clear the cobwebs of confusion,
Help you find your purpose.

I am good at catching pieces
And I can chase away a storm.

Let me walk your path beside you,
I have walked this road before.

You can lean on me when the weariness comes.
My shoulders are very strong.

I can not fight your battles,
Or chase away demons of the soul,
But I can lend you my strength
Until you find your own.

I will help you find the courage
To face each day anew.

I can not shorten the journey you must make,
The road is just as long as before.

But I can fill the emptiness
And help you reach your center,
The place where love and beauty hide.

Take my hand, be my friend,
Let me walk with you awhile.

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Bearkat77's Beatlemaniac Page
Bearkat77's Tribute to John Lennon
Bearkat77's Tribute to Ringo Starr

Follow your dreams

I knew a man who had a mission
There was a mountain he had to climb
This dream of his became a vision
That never left his mind
He packed his gear and set on out
Trying to make that climb one day
And in his mind, there was no doubt
But the weather got in his way
So he fought the storm that slowed him down
And he made it through the night
And when the morning sun came round
He was woken by the light
He kept working every night and day
Trying to make his way on up
And come one morning when the night gave way
He was sitting there, right on top
And now the man sits on the mountain
With the gleam of stars in his eyes
But there's one thing that he knows for certain
He can get there if he tries


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Living is a lesson that never seems to end
A path that’s ever changing, sharing wisdom like a friend

A child is full of hunger for scenes he has not seen
And spends his time by feeding his curiosity
And many new experiments bring pleasure mixed with pain
But experience will teach him not to cause the pain again

A young man's life is formed by the choices that he makes
Before he even knows what he really has at stake
For knowledge comes from living and trying something new
But wisdom comes from learning from all that you've been through

And as a man grows older his habits tend to change
The things he came to care about have taken all his days
He cannot see the wonder he used to see in life
So he does not use the wisdom he's learned from all his strife

An old man has the wisdom, a young man has the drive
And when they work together they really come alive
For a young man has ideas for things he'd like to do
And an old man has the wisdom to make those dreams come true



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I Believe...

I believe in miracles and dreams that will come true,
And I believe in happiness and friendship, through and through.

I believe that when you cry your tears are not in vain,
And when you're sad and lonely, someone knows your pain.

I believe that when we laugh a sparkle starts to shine,
And I just know that spark will spread from more hearts than just mine.

I believe the gifts you have are there for you to share
And when you give them from the heart, the whole world knows you care.

I believe that if you give, even just to one,
That gift will grow in magnitude before the day is done.

I believe that comfort comes from giving part of me,
And if I share with others, there's more for all to see.

I believe that love is still the greatest gift of all
And when it's given from the heart, not one of us will fall.

- Author Unknown

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Bearkat77's Beatlemaniac Page
Bearkat77's Tribute to John Lennon
Bearkat77's Tribute to Ringo Starr

Carl And The Church's Garden

Carl was a quiet man. He didn't talk much. He would always greet you with a big smile and a firm handshake, but even after living in our neighborhood for over 50 years, no one could really say they knew him very well. All we really knew was he had worked for the Gas Company and had won an award when he retired for never having taken a sick day in all his 51 years with the company.

Before his retirement, he took the bus to work each morning. As his retirement approached and he grew older, the lone sight of him walking down the street often worried us. He had a slight limp from a bullet wound received in WW II. The bullet itself was still lodged very near his spine.Watching him, we worried that although he had survived World War II, he may not make it through our changing uptown neighborhood with its ever-increasing random violence, gangs, and drug activity. How could we have known that a Miracle limped in our midst?

Carl was in his early 70s when he began what was to be a 15 plus years job of caring for the gardens behind the minister's residence. He was then retired and his wife had died a few years earlier. When he saw the flyer at our local church asking for volunteers, he responded in his characteristically unassuming manner. Without fanfare, he just signed up to do the weeding, watering and seeding of flowers and vegetables that were planted each spring. He was well into his 87th year when the very thing we had always feared finally happened. He was just finishing his watering for the day when three gang members approached him. Ignoring their attempt to intimidate him, he simply asked, "Would you like a drink from the hose?"

The tallest and toughest-looking of the three said, "Yeah, sure", with a malevolent little smile. As Carl offered the hose to him, the other two grabbed Carl's arm, throwing him down. As the hose snaked crazily over the ground, dousing everything in its way, Carl's assailants stole his retirement watch and his wallet, and then fled.

Carl tried to get himself up, but he had been thrown down on his bad leg. He lay there trying to gather himself as the minister came running to help him. Although the minister had witnessed the attack from his window, he couldn't get there fast enough to stop it. "Carl, are you okay? Are you hurt?" the minister kept asking as he helped Carl to his feet.

Carl just passed a hand over his brow and sighed, shaking his head. "Just some punk kids. I hope they'll wise-up someday." His wet clothes clung to his slight frame as he bent to pick up the hose. He adjusted the nozzle again and started to water.

Confused and a little concerned, the minister asked, "Carl, what are you doing?" "I've got to finish my watering. It's been very dry lately", came the calm reply. Satisfying himself that Carl really was all right, the minister could only marvel. Carl was a man from a different time and place.

A few weeks later, the three returned. Just as before, their threat was unchallenged. Carl again offered them a drink form his hose. This time they didn't rob him. They wrenched the hose from his hand and drenched him head to foot in the icy water as he tried un-successfully to fend them off.

When they had finished their humiliation of him, they sauntered off down the street, throwing catcalls and curses, falling over one another laughing at the hilarity of what they had just done. Carl just watched them. Then he turned toward the warmth-giving sun, picked up his hose, and went on with his watering.

The summer was quickly fading into fall. Thankfully, things had been quiet and uneventful. Carl was doing some tilling and getting the rose beds ready for their winter mulch protection when he was startled by the sudden approach of someone behind him. He stumbled and fell into some evergreen branches. As he struggled to regain his footing, he turned to see the tall leader of his summer tormentors reaching down for him. He braced himself for the expected attack.

"Don't worry old man, I'm not gonna hurt you this time." The young man spoke softly, still offering the tattooed and scarred hand to Carl. As he helped Carl get up, the man pulled a crumpled bag from his pocket and handed it to Carl.

"What's this?" Carl asked.

"It's your stuff," the man explained. "It's your stuff back. Even the money in your wallet."

"I don't understand," Carl said. "Why would you help me now?"

The man shifted his feet, seeming embarrassed and ill at ease. "I learned something from you," he said. "I ran with that gang and hurt people like you.We picked you because you were old and we knew we could do it. But every time we came and did something to you, instead of yelling and fighting back, you tried to give us a drink. You didn't hate us for hating you. You kept showing love against our hate." He stopped for a moment. "I couldn't sleep after we stole your stuff, so here it is back." He paused for another awkward moment, not knowing what more there was to say. "That bag's my way of saying thanks for straightening me out, I guess." And with that, he walked off down the street.

Carl looked down at the sack in his hands and gingerly opened it. He took out his retirement watch and put it back on his wrist. Opening his wallet, he checked for his wedding photo. He gazed for a moment at the young bride that still smiled back at him from all those years ago, and then put the photo back in its place. He pocketed his billfold once again and went back to mulching his roses.

He didn't make it to the following spring to see those roses bloom again. He died one cold day after Christmas that winter.

Many people attended his funeral, in spite of the weather. In particular, the minister noticed a tall young man that he didn't know sitting quietly in a distant corner of the church. The minister spoke of Carl's garden as a lesson in life. In a voice made thick with unshed tears, he said, "Do your best and make your garden as beautiful as you can. We will never forget Carl and his garden."

The following spring, as the ice thawed in the yard, another flyer went up. It read: "Person needed to care for Carl's garden." The flyer went unnoticed by the busy parishioners until one day when a knock was heard at the minister's office door. Opening the door, the minister saw a pair of scarred and tattooed hands holding the flyer. "I believe this is my job, if you'll have me," the young man said.

The minister recognized him as the same young man who had returned the stolen watch and wallet to Carl. He knew that Carl's kindness had turned this man's life around. As the minister handed him the keys to the garden shed, he said, "Yes, go take care of Carl's garden and honor him."

The man went to work and, over the next several years, he tended the flowers and vegetables just as Carl had done. In that time, he went to college, got married and became a prominent businessman in the community.

But he never forgot his promise to Carl's memory and kept the garden as beautiful as he thought Carl would have kept it.

One day he approached the new minister and told him that he couldn't care for the garden any longer. He explained with a shy and happy smile, "My wife just had our baby last night, and she's coming home Saturday."

"Well, congratulations!" said the minister, as he was handed the garden shed keys. "That's wonderful! What's the baby's name?"

The young man said...Carl.

Author Unknown

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Bearkat77's Beatlemaniac Page
Bearkat77's Tribute to John Lennon
Bearkat77's Tribute to Ringo Starr

New Friends

New friends are like presents that you can't see inside
With an aura full of mystery that makes you come alive
For presents form a vision of a dream within your mind
That promises you pleasure when you open them in time
And friendship full of promise with love that seems to grow
Shines a light upon your life, that feeds into your soul
Anticipation brings you joy when meeting someone new
For you always hope they'll be the one
To make your dreams come true



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Living Love

Live your life by loving, let your feelings show
Love sings on forever, let the music flow
Listen to your feelings, beating in your heart
Let the pulse within you feed your love
For love is like a rhythm that is pulsing through your heart
And will harmonize in time with other lives
Values based on feelings rate the worth of all your love
As your pulsing heart will rate your force of life

Live your life by loving, each and every day
Love sings on forever, let the music play
Listen to your feelings, beating in your heart
Let the pulse within you feed your love
For love is like a rhythm that is pulsing through your heart
And will harmonize in time with other lives
Feelings will not fail you if they're based upon your love
For they're part of all that makes you what you are



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You Can

If you think you are beaten, you are,
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you'd like to win, but you think you can't,
It's almost a cinch you won't!

If you think you'll lose, you've lost,
For out in the world you find
Success begins with the will,
Its all in the state of mind.

If you think you're outclassed, you are,
You've got to think high to rise
You've got to think of yourself before
You can ever win the prize!

Full many a race is lost
Before ever a step is run;
And many a coward fails,
Before his work's begun.

Think big and your deeds will grow,
Think small and you'll fall behind,
Think that you can and you will,
It's all in the state of mind!

Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man;
But sooner or later the man who wins
Is the one who thinks he can!

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Bearkat77's Beatlemaniac Page
Bearkat77's Tribute to John Lennon
Bearkat77's Tribute to Ringo Starr

I Wish You

I wish you happiness deep within...
I wish you serenity with each sunrise.

I wish you success in every part of your life,
I wish you knowledge and wisdom and grace.

I wish you a bright day with much to be thankful for
And special memories of all the yesterdays,
And a bright path that leads to a beautiful tomorrow.

I wish you dreams that sometimes come true
And appreciation of all the wonderful things about you!

I wish you the caring of close friends
And I wish you Love that never ends!

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Bearkat77's Beatlemaniac Page
Bearkat77's Tribute to John Lennon
Bearkat77's Tribute to Ringo Starr

Wisdom from above

Black and white is easy, you've only got one choice
But life is lived in color, so let us all rejoice
For we've got many choices and colors in our lives
To paint the pictures in our minds and make them come alive

But questions aren't all easy and colors aren't all clear
And when the answer's maybe, more questions will appear
Where do you get the wisdom when the colors are all smeared
To paint the pictures clear enough to see through doubts you fear

Sometimes your faith in who you are must motivate your soul
To draw your wisdom from the Lord, to help you reach your goals
A man can't have the answers to all the questions asked
But faith and love will paint a scene of wisdom that will last

Paint the pictures in your mind, color them with love
Make those pictures come alive, with wisdom form above



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On this special Day

On this special day
You’ve made a brand new start
The seeds the Lord has planted
Have blossomed in your heart

Your charity and compassion
Have helped to make you grow
And you’ve touched the lives of others
Much more than you can know

I pray the Lord will bless you
And fulfill your every need
For the love you’ve shown his children
Makes you very special indeed


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