Affirmations:
I am curious and full of delight, as I explore.
I love learning and exploring new ideas.
I enjoy the experiences I create and appreciate.
I forgive any mistakes or misperceptions.
Living fully is constant learning.
New choices, people and places expand learning.
Releasing the past and opening to new ideas offer renewal.
Being open-minded and appreciative create greater freedom of choice.
We are here in Fort Madison, IA (motel) and Nauvoo, IL for the annual Mormon Pageant this week.
We have been graciously welcomed and guided by my brother and his wife (part of the volunteer staff.)
The experience of this Pageant is like attending a huge family reunion to remember and celebrate their history.
It is a celebration, renewal and reminder of what is “true” in their calling to love, serve and remember. (plays, readings, county fair, kids activities from 1800’s, carriage rides to historical sites and tours of the town as it was.)
I am honored to be able to be here and learn.
I am inspired by the faith that so serves families and children and humanity.
I am awestruck by the profound sense of quiet faith and sincere respect they have for one another.
I am delighted to know there is this prospering community dedicated to living their spiritual truths.
I recognize how little I really know about any religion or calling.
I realize how much spiritual intolerance (fear + ignorance) exists.
I remember how innocent it is to simply love one another and our selves.
I recognize how we need to learn to forgive ourselves for being fearful and ignorant.
It is time to listen and learn to the real truth that each individual believes.
It is right to remember the Source of every religious teaching and forgive the history.
It is necessary to let go of our separation, fear and avoidance of each other.
It is healing to appreciate the many places where all people are similar in their faiths.
When our minds are closed, we will not listen or learn.
When our hearts unforgiving, we will not love, trust and respect.
When our beliefs are righteous, we will do anything to be right.
When our society is not respectful, we teach our children to hate, fear and attack.
Ask yourself, what is true for you?
Are you open and willing to forgive and listen?
Are you willing to learn, share and discover?
Are you part of the problem or solution?
People have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
We exercise that right when we live our lives with conscious choice.
We extend those principles to others when we trust and respect them.
We learn to do no harm with our thoughts, words and behavior.
This is the call of these times, and perhaps all times.
This is our covenant to ourselves, our families and to one another.
We are not free until all are free to choose what is for the Good of all.
We are here, in bodies, to clear the fear and ignorance and love one another.
Loving you with whatever your choice to listen, learn and let go.
Loving you in your choice to laugh and love and share the Good.
Loving you as you stay open to appreciate the variety of choices.
Loving you in being you as you truly believe and live for Goodness sake.
Betty Lue
Do It Anyway
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you.
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy it all overnight.
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.