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I received a delightful, uplifting email the other day and reread it today. This day it particularly nourishes my spiritual hunger and reminds me of the magnificence of not just me but everyone.

May today there be peace within.
May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others.
May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content with yourself just the way you are.
Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.

God is within me and within everyone. May I act in accordance with this concept this day and every day.

I attended the monthly “Garden Party” at Unity of Sedona this weekend where I was of service by helping to spruce (no pun intended) up the gardens. I’ve been wanting to spend more time in nature, with Nature, and this was a wonderful opportunity to do so. My soul and physical body have been in sore need of feeling Mother Earth, of letting Her soil run through my fingers.

I pulled some weeds but mostly I hung out with the irises.

Irises are widespread on the grounds and there were plenty of dead, burnt leaves to remove. The more I worked with the irises, the closer I felt to them. I apologized when I accidentally tugged on a healthy leaf, I let them know how lovely they were, I felt their cool temperature even in the summer heat. We bonded.

Thank You, Spirit for this special experience and for the very many blessings in my life, which come in many forms and numerous types of kinships.

My serenity is very dependent on my attitude.

When I hold an attitude of gratitude, I have serenity.

When I hold an attitude of joy, I have serenity.

When I hold an attitude of acceptance, I have serenity.

When I hold an attitude of love, I have serenity.

The list could go on and on, similar to when I draw up a gratitude list. And, simply going through the exercise is sufficient for me to feel serene. Ahhhh.

A line from yesterday’s In God’s Care stated “We need our connection to God to maintain our perspective on life.” How true that rings for me this morning!

Early in my days of 12 Step recovery as “I came to believe” and formulate an entirely new philosophy of life, I realized that everything in this life is just a “spit in the bucket” (of eternity). The little things and the big things work themselves out eventually and hence I can be peaceful regardless of circumstances.

Circumstances are ever-changing and, in this world, usually crazy and illusionary; I often just have to laugh at it all. But Spirit is permanent, never-changing, and what is truly real.

With God “all things are possible,” I am in God’s care at all times, and, in the grand scheme of things, all that matters is God.

As I strengthen my connection to Spirit with each positive thought held and each prayer prayed, I maintain my perspective on this roller coaster of life by keeping my eye staid on Thee.

As our life gets ‘cleaned up’, simplified, clarified, and more and more ‘Spirit-fied,’ Rog and I find people dropping out of our world – family and friends. We meet more spiritually like-minded people and start building relationships with them. Then, when we least expect it, the former folks come back into our lives.

In the past couple of weeks, at least four people have come back into our world. But two of them particularly seem to ebb and flow back into our life, sometimes every year or so, or perhaps every several months. Each time they seem to disappear from our lives, we think we understand why. There’s been no arguments, but it just naturally seemed time for all concerned to move away and onward in relationship. But then they come back into our lives, and that seems just as natural. I suppose it’s because we’re all changing and growing in conscious awareness.

Knowing there is a reason and purpose for every event and person in my life – even if each might last only a second – I remembered a poem I’d received a while back. After some research on the Web, I think I’ve tracked down the author who was contemplating friendship when she wrote it.

Here it is.

People Come Into Your Life for A Reason, A Season Or A Lifetime
By Jean Dominique Martin

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support,
To aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
This person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons,
Things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson,
Love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant

Dear Spirit – Thank You for all the people who come into my life for whatever length of time. It is always a holy encounter, and a blessing.