Hey gang.. sorry about my lack of communication... still full of assignments!!
Blessings
Candace
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Peace, getting through the tough times!
Today, just about everywhere in the world, someone is hurting. You either know them or know someone who knows them. You may be the one who is hurting.
How do we get through the things that can break us in two? This is a tough question to answer, and realistically, there is no one real answer and depending on the depth of the hurting, no answer at all.
Certainly there are precious people, somewhere in this world that wouldn't even believe for one second that they have any other choice. Suffering is a way of life.
Do we come into this world with the expectations and beliefs that all should be perfect and beautiful? That we have some `right`to be free from suffering, that we are somehow special because of where we were born or whose family we were born into? Perhaps that might contribute to some of our disappointments, although certainly not all of them. How do we deal with so much hurting and suffering?
Do we keep up the "no matter what, we can be happy, or the famous... cup is 1/2 full ", attitude?
Should we, or can we, approach our problems with despair and believe that no matter how hard we try, we have no control, so what's the point? Or maybe the `Life sucks` and we can't do anything about it so just be miserable perspective? Do we believe that others have such power and control over the inside of us, and our attitudes, that we have no hope of being at peace within?
These are the questions I have been wrestling with as I have watched such unbelievable suffering all around me. Through the unexpected death of those that are still young, chronic sickness, acts of nature, crime and atrocities faced by many through to the hidden intensity of emotional pain, feelings of helplessness and loss of hope, suffering is a reality whether we like it or not-
A slightly different perspective could be considered without sounding patronizing or insensitive.....
Chuck Swindoll, www.insightforliving.com, wrote a beautiful biography of `Job,` the character who is reputable for enduring suffering, significant loss, pain, and heartache which was further intensified from the so called `support` of his friends. As Chuck Swindoll demonstrated in this thought provoking book, Job is an admirable example of patience and endurance through suffering all while maintaining his humanity. Chuck included a quote from Dr. Frances I. Andersen, a medical doctor and archeologist who stated: `Job finds nothing wrong with what has happened to him.`
Chuck Swindoll writes further the best advice he ever recieved was a quote from veterans of pain, `As diamonds are made by pressure and pearls are formed by irritation, so greatness is forged by adversity`.`
Interesting perspective.... how diamonds are formed causes me to think about the value we place on them... are they valueable because of the intensity it takes to form them and the cost of so many lives to retrieve them? Although I HATE to see the suffering, perhaps some of my understanding or lack of understanding of suffering could improve. Who can teach this concept of endurance through suffering today? Children - they can and do teach us about the endurance of suffering and have a great way of looking at life. No matter how much they suffer, they seem to find some level of joy and can easily bounce back from hurt, pain and difficult circumstances. They sure teach me more than I could ever know.
OUR ISABEL... www.prayforbabyisabel.blogspot.com
My 30 year old son, who has experienced first hand, the worst nightmare a parent could have on July 4, 2005, has said it better than anyone I know. When I asked him regarding our dear Isabel's cancer diagnosis, and after these past few years, what gave him peace he responded with a beautiful, honest and vulnerable admission.
"Mom", he said, "What gives me peace and hope is the awareness that there is absolutely, nothing I can do about this; nothing at all. Because I know this to be true, I don't try to expend my energy doing something that is not within my power".
Age Old Wisdom in the Young.
This revelation of a young father who watches his baby suffer and suffers right along side her, has learned what it takes most of us a entire life time to learn, if we ever do. He understands and is learning, that when we know and understand that we have NO control over certain things, then we don't have to fight to try and bring things to pass, we can just enjoy the moments that we do have.
Just a quick note on balance;
INJUSTICE
In the need o speak to the issue of balance in suffering, don`t get me wrong....we need to clearly see when to fight and stand up for injustice and manipulation and misuse of power. I believe where we can make a stand we should and frankly whatever level that takes place, whether in your own home, or in the world... we need to stand up and speak out against tierany in any form. However, for the sake of things we can`t control, this is where the bulk of my sharing is focused.
What my son has learned
My son has learned to enjoy the moments of joy he experiences with his daughter, and has learned to weep when she does, laugh when she laughs, cries when she cries, and walks through her suffering or joy with her. This ties them close, shares their pain with each other and brings them through this journey of suffering with hope. Hope, that in the midst of all that seems unfair, to use powerfully the one thing we do have love.
Love is the one thing we do have the power to give or withhold. To give that away and this is what has been allocated to us and to see that we use those moments to leave this world just a little better than when we came in, if we can. To reach out and touch someones life, even with something that seems so small to us is more than gold or diamonds.
A smile for someone that everyone ignores or walks by, a meal for a mother who is overwhelmed, a visit to a precious senior who is lonely, the opportunties are right here, every moment, just waiting for our response. Most importantly, we CAN control our perspective towards what life has dished out to us.
Anyone who has experienced and overcome suffering, no matter where we live in this world, has learned that although life and others may try and break us down, if we know who we really are, accept the love that is ours and share from what lies within us, then we have found peace.
We know that we don't have to be in control, but can see beyond the pain, to the knowledge that when we let go of it all and just love, there is peace waiting for us.
What my son has found in hidden within the fragile walls of suffering, is that this gift of suffering can produce a deeper love and compassion and stretches us far more than we ever thought possible. And as far as the outcome, well, it doesn't have a hold us anymore. The truth is, we're not in control....we can only respond or react, learn what life might have for us, give with all that we have and respond to what comes our way. Maturity and growth comes in responding, peace is the fruit of it!
........ I am still learning.
Blessings
Candace
How do we get through the things that can break us in two? This is a tough question to answer, and realistically, there is no one real answer and depending on the depth of the hurting, no answer at all.
Certainly there are precious people, somewhere in this world that wouldn't even believe for one second that they have any other choice. Suffering is a way of life.
Do we come into this world with the expectations and beliefs that all should be perfect and beautiful? That we have some `right`to be free from suffering, that we are somehow special because of where we were born or whose family we were born into? Perhaps that might contribute to some of our disappointments, although certainly not all of them. How do we deal with so much hurting and suffering?
Do we keep up the "no matter what, we can be happy, or the famous... cup is 1/2 full ", attitude?
Should we, or can we, approach our problems with despair and believe that no matter how hard we try, we have no control, so what's the point? Or maybe the `Life sucks` and we can't do anything about it so just be miserable perspective? Do we believe that others have such power and control over the inside of us, and our attitudes, that we have no hope of being at peace within?
These are the questions I have been wrestling with as I have watched such unbelievable suffering all around me. Through the unexpected death of those that are still young, chronic sickness, acts of nature, crime and atrocities faced by many through to the hidden intensity of emotional pain, feelings of helplessness and loss of hope, suffering is a reality whether we like it or not-
A slightly different perspective could be considered without sounding patronizing or insensitive.....
Chuck Swindoll, www.insightforliving.com, wrote a beautiful biography of `Job,` the character who is reputable for enduring suffering, significant loss, pain, and heartache which was further intensified from the so called `support` of his friends. As Chuck Swindoll demonstrated in this thought provoking book, Job is an admirable example of patience and endurance through suffering all while maintaining his humanity. Chuck included a quote from Dr. Frances I. Andersen, a medical doctor and archeologist who stated: `Job finds nothing wrong with what has happened to him.`
Chuck Swindoll writes further the best advice he ever recieved was a quote from veterans of pain, `As diamonds are made by pressure and pearls are formed by irritation, so greatness is forged by adversity`.`
Interesting perspective.... how diamonds are formed causes me to think about the value we place on them... are they valueable because of the intensity it takes to form them and the cost of so many lives to retrieve them? Although I HATE to see the suffering, perhaps some of my understanding or lack of understanding of suffering could improve. Who can teach this concept of endurance through suffering today? Children - they can and do teach us about the endurance of suffering and have a great way of looking at life. No matter how much they suffer, they seem to find some level of joy and can easily bounce back from hurt, pain and difficult circumstances. They sure teach me more than I could ever know.
OUR ISABEL... www.prayforbabyisabel.blogspot.com
My 30 year old son, who has experienced first hand, the worst nightmare a parent could have on July 4, 2005, has said it better than anyone I know. When I asked him regarding our dear Isabel's cancer diagnosis, and after these past few years, what gave him peace he responded with a beautiful, honest and vulnerable admission.
"Mom", he said, "What gives me peace and hope is the awareness that there is absolutely, nothing I can do about this; nothing at all. Because I know this to be true, I don't try to expend my energy doing something that is not within my power".
Age Old Wisdom in the Young.
This revelation of a young father who watches his baby suffer and suffers right along side her, has learned what it takes most of us a entire life time to learn, if we ever do. He understands and is learning, that when we know and understand that we have NO control over certain things, then we don't have to fight to try and bring things to pass, we can just enjoy the moments that we do have.
Just a quick note on balance;
INJUSTICE
In the need o speak to the issue of balance in suffering, don`t get me wrong....we need to clearly see when to fight and stand up for injustice and manipulation and misuse of power. I believe where we can make a stand we should and frankly whatever level that takes place, whether in your own home, or in the world... we need to stand up and speak out against tierany in any form. However, for the sake of things we can`t control, this is where the bulk of my sharing is focused.
What my son has learned
My son has learned to enjoy the moments of joy he experiences with his daughter, and has learned to weep when she does, laugh when she laughs, cries when she cries, and walks through her suffering or joy with her. This ties them close, shares their pain with each other and brings them through this journey of suffering with hope. Hope, that in the midst of all that seems unfair, to use powerfully the one thing we do have love.
Love is the one thing we do have the power to give or withhold. To give that away and this is what has been allocated to us and to see that we use those moments to leave this world just a little better than when we came in, if we can. To reach out and touch someones life, even with something that seems so small to us is more than gold or diamonds.
A smile for someone that everyone ignores or walks by, a meal for a mother who is overwhelmed, a visit to a precious senior who is lonely, the opportunties are right here, every moment, just waiting for our response. Most importantly, we CAN control our perspective towards what life has dished out to us.
Anyone who has experienced and overcome suffering, no matter where we live in this world, has learned that although life and others may try and break us down, if we know who we really are, accept the love that is ours and share from what lies within us, then we have found peace.
We know that we don't have to be in control, but can see beyond the pain, to the knowledge that when we let go of it all and just love, there is peace waiting for us.
What my son has found in hidden within the fragile walls of suffering, is that this gift of suffering can produce a deeper love and compassion and stretches us far more than we ever thought possible. And as far as the outcome, well, it doesn't have a hold us anymore. The truth is, we're not in control....we can only respond or react, learn what life might have for us, give with all that we have and respond to what comes our way. Maturity and growth comes in responding, peace is the fruit of it!
........ I am still learning.
Blessings
Candace
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
On Being a Student!
To all my dear students, past and future!!
I am in class right now, under instruction taking the 4th out of 6 classes for my Provincial Instructor's Diploma (PID) http://instructordiploma.com so.... what does it feel like to be a student myself....???
YIKES!!! and for all of you that may have had a hard time because of the way I may have taught or didn't explain something clearly..... I APOLOGIZE!
It is definately hard to be a student and I see how important it is to really explain things carefully until you can affectively comprehend, and by using whatever methods will help you achieve that..... showing pictures, more orders, more examples, whatever you needed to help you learn!! Love to hear your comments!! (be nice)
So, back to my assignments!! Whew... taking a 3.0 credit course in just 4 days.... aggghhhh!!!
Much love,
Candace
I am in class right now, under instruction taking the 4th out of 6 classes for my Provincial Instructor's Diploma (PID) http://instructordiploma.com so.... what does it feel like to be a student myself....???
YIKES!!! and for all of you that may have had a hard time because of the way I may have taught or didn't explain something clearly..... I APOLOGIZE!
It is definately hard to be a student and I see how important it is to really explain things carefully until you can affectively comprehend, and by using whatever methods will help you achieve that..... showing pictures, more orders, more examples, whatever you needed to help you learn!! Love to hear your comments!! (be nice)
So, back to my assignments!! Whew... taking a 3.0 credit course in just 4 days.... aggghhhh!!!
Much love,
Candace
Monday, July 2, 2007
HAPPY CANADA DAY!
We are very priveledged to have such an amazing country and I am grateful for this beautiful country I was born in.
Blessings
Candace
Blessings
Candace
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