" The Prayer … "

I pray you'll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don't know

Let this be our prayer when we lose our way
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe

Let this be our prayer ...
Just like every child ...
Give us faith so we'll be safe ...

~ Celine Dion ~ The Prayer ~

***

Ever wonder why we need to pray at all?  I mean if God already knows what we need and is in charge then what is the point?

Well, if you consider that prayers are “divinely appointed”, then we can believe that God tells us about it in His Words.  Perhaps in simpler terms, prayers can be defined as talking to God and are a means, not an end in itself ... which carries His design accomplishes His purpose.

“Faith infuses prayer with great expectancy and is a gift by which the Holy Spirit grants us spiritual sense and sensibilities. It is the opposite of wishful thinking, apprehending unseen realities ... “

We pray because we long for connection … we regain perspective in our relationship with the Divine and of our place of humility.

We pray because we want to align with God’s will ... we have the ability to lift our challenges to Him, surrender, and trust the process.

We pray because we can ... God expects to hear from us and he hears all requests.

We pray because we feel more centered ... a sense of grounded-ness and serenity results.

Personally,  I think of prayer as a conscious relationship or friendship with God.  And similar to great conversations I have had with close friends, I have had some good ones with Him.  Instead of making deals or asking for conditional wishes to be granted, I believe with my heart to let go and let God ... and praise Him for his kindness and mercy.

Hence, perhaps we pray at our deepest level because we are drawn by the bonds of love and our deepest reality ... aligning with Him and help experience a deeper well-being ॐ

" Vegetables ... "

If you brought a big brown bag of them home
I'd jump up and down and hope you'd toss me a carrot ...

I tried to kick the ball but my tenny flew right off
I'm red as a beet 'cause I'm so embarrassed

I know that you'll feel better
When you send us in your letter
And tell us the name of your
Your favorite vegetable

~ Beach Boys ~ Vegetables

***

I have to start off with my amazement ... finding song lyrics about vegetables, so cool!  Anyhow this post does not have the intention to sway anyone to become a vegetarian ... just wanted to find out more about this choice of a meatless path.

Where vegetarianism originates ... The word vegetarian is derived from the Latin world vegetus which means lively or vigorous ...

Historical records show a long tradition of ethical wrangling with respect to animals.  Some time between 4000 and 1500 BC and within the four sacred Indian texts known as the Vedas, the wondrous power of the natural world was explained and set the stage for vegetarianism.  The concept of the transmigration of souls with Gods taking animal form and human beings having past animal lives.  All creatures harbored the Divine so the idea of meat on the dinner plate was less palatable.

Also, many yogis follow the practical guidelines within the Bhagavad Gita, religious book of Hinduism.  It specifies that sattvic foods such as milk, butter, fruit, vegetables and grains promote vitality, health, pleasure, strength and long life ... whereas bitter, salty and sour rajasic foods such as meat, fish and alcohol cause pain, disease and discomfort.  Vegetarianism is the spirit of the Indian tradition.

The idea of nonviolence towards animals even dates back to ancient Greece in the 5th century BCE.  Yet following the Christianisation of the Roman Empire, vegetarianism disappeared from Europe only to re-emerge during the Renaissance in the 19th and 20th centuries.  The first Vegetarian Society was founded in the UK in 1847.  In the Western world, the popularity of vegetarianism grew during the 20th century as a result of nutritional, ethical, and more recently, environmental and economic concerns.

And thankfully, scientific endeavors in the area of vegetarianism have shifted from concerns about nutritional adequancy to investigating health benefits and disease prevention.  Vegetarian diets are being used to support treatment for chronic illnesses and avoid the transmission of a number of diseases from animals to humans.

In many socieities, there is controversery over the ethics of eating certain animals.  These objections are based on the consideration for animals, the act of killing and the opposition to certain agricultural practices surrounding the produciton of meat.

Personally I have been vegetarian for 2.5 years now, being vegan for 2 years of that time.  I will never again eat anything that has parents.  Just doesn’t work for me ... and it is a personal choice.  Some feel they can’t live without their burgers and steaks, others love their tofu and soy.  Do the research and make an educated decision but in the meantime if you were wondering where you will get your “protein” ... check out this delicious list of foods ... 

1 avocado - 10 grams

1 cup broccoli - 5 grams

1 cup spinach - 5 grams

2 cups cooked kale - 5 grams

1 cup boiled peas - 9 grams

1 cup cooked sweet potato - 5 grams

1 cup soybeans - 28 grams (1 cup tempeh - 30 grams)

1 cup lentils - 18 grams

1 cup refried beans - 15.5 grams

1 cup garbanzo beans (and hummus) - 14.5 grams

1 cup pinto, kidney, black beans - 13-15 grams

1 oz peanuts - 6.5 grams

1 oz. cashews - 4.4 grams

1 oz. sesame seeds 6.5 grams

3 tablespoons of tahini - 8 grams

1/4 cup (2 oz.) walnuts - 5 grams

1 oz. pistachios - 5.8 grams

2 tbsp almonds - 4 grams

nut butters - peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter - 2 tablespoons has about 8 grams of protein

Soy, almond, ancient grain. 1 cup gets you 7-9 grams of protein.

Quinoa is versatile and delicious. 1 cup - 9 grams.

Oatmeal - 1 cup = 6 grams.

Sprouted grain bread products - 7-10 grams

Hemp - 30 grams of hemp powder ~11 grams of protein

" Sacrifice ... "

I tell you one lesson I learned

If you want to be something in life

You ain't gonna get it unless

You give a little bit of sacrifice

Ooohh, sometimes before you smile you got to cry

You need a heart that's filled with music

If you use it you can fly

If you want to be high

~ The Roots ~ Sacrifice ~ 

***

Most people I know are thankful to have this long weekend.  A break from the daily grind to spend time doing what they wish they were doing when they are working.  But this weekend is not your ordinary long weekend.  This weekend is because of Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

From a place of compassion and love, 

I wanted to learn more about this paramount moment within the Christian faith ... 

I understand that Good Friday marks the day on which Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross for the sins of the world, but what didn't make sense was why call it “good” then?  Well I found that the term Good Friday might be a bit confusing if you associate good with happy.  Good Friday isn’t a happy day, but its name is a reminder that humans can only be considered “good” because of what happened on that day.  This significant Friday is a day of mourning and sorrow over Jesus’s sacrificial death ... a day of gratitude for the supreme sacrifice that He made. 

It is even believed that the original name was God’s Friday, which over the years became what it is today.  To this day, in Europe, some call it Holy, Great, Black, Sorrowful or Quiet Friday as well.

And depending on your origin, there are differences as to how the anniversary is acknowledged.    Whether it is fasting, praying, street processions, kite flying, or draping oneself in black, most Christians hold subdued service inclusive of solemn hymns, prayers of thanksgiving, messages, along side an observance of the Lord’s Supper.  

Easter Sunday is the resurrection of Jesus.  It is believed that three days after his death on the cross, He came back to life and through is death burial and resurrection, Jesus paid the penalty for our sins.

I will be honest ... wondering how is it possible that the sacrifice of one man be enough to redeem the gruesome sins of mankind?  Truly, our sins are many.  But they are limited, and His sacrifice is an eternal one by which we receive an eternal reward, that removes the consequences of our sinful nature.  Hence not only making it possible, but making it so.

We all have the freedom of choice .... and there are many who freely choose to reject this gift but there are also many who accept it.  Yet regardless of our response to this offering, the gift was generously offered for the redemption of all.  This gift is the manifestation of perfect love.  

So, ultimately if we accept this amazing gift, we can conform our lives to goodness, we can live in perfect love, we can celebrate the unity of brotherhood and respectfully be in gratitude ...