December 25, 2006

TODAY'S TUNE [ON/OFF]

"Silver Bells "
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From the Inside Out...
The Little Girl
Who Dared to Wish

Yes You Can!...
Experience Peace by
Becoming Peace

Far Horizons...
Luxor's Temple
of Karnak

Untangling the Web...
What a Site and
Computer Tips & 'Toons

In the Spotlight...
It's the First Day of
the Rest of Your Life

Just for YOU...
Special Treats

Laughing It Off...
Fa-La-La-La-La
La-La-La-La Trivia

Fascinating Facts...
"Rudolphina" Perhaps?

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BE the World
You Want to See!

Human beings seldom step outside of themselves to really grasp the needs and fears of others. We often project our own thoughts and beliefs upon strangers, and make judgments based upon how we think they 'should' be living their lives. If only we could experience a few moments inside the feelings of another person, the world would be a much more compassionate and benevolent place — and crises like Darfur would receive the healing they so desperately need.

SIMPLY ENTER HERE
... where it takes just a little to make a BIG difference in the world!

~ Chelle Thompson, Editor

From the Inside Out
THE LITTLE GIRL
WHO DARED TO WISH

As Amy Hagadorn rounded the corner across the hall from her classroom, she collided with a tall boy from the fifth grade running in the opposite direction.

"Watch it, Squirt," the boy yelled, as he dodged around the little third grader. Then, with a smirk on his face, the boy took hold of his right leg and mimicked the way Amy limped when she walked.

Amy closed her eyes for a moment.

Ignore him, she told herself as she headed for her classroom.

But at the end of the day, Amy was still thinking about the tall boy's mean teasing. It wasn't as if he were the only one. It seemed that ever since Amy started the third grade, someone teased her every single day. Kids teased her about her speech or her limping. Amy was tired of it. Sometimes, even in a classroom full of other students, the teasing made her feel all alone.

Back home at the dinner table that evening Amy was quiet. Her mother knew that things were not going well at school. That's why Patti Hagadorn was happy to have some exciting news to share with her daughter.

"There's a Christmas Wish Contest on the radio station," Amy's mom announced. "Write a letter to Santa and you might win a prize. I think someone at this table with blond curly hair should enter."

Amy giggled. The contest sounded like fun. She started thinking about what she wanted most for Christmas.

A smile took hold of Amy when the idea first came to her. Out came pencil and paper and Amy went to work on her letter. "Dear Santa Claus," she began.

While Amy worked away at her best printing, the rest of the family tried to guess what she might ask from Santa. Amy's sister, Jamie, and Amy's mom both thought a 3-foot Barbie Doll would top Amy's wish list. Amy's dad guessed a picture book. But Amy wasn't ready to reveal her secret Christmas wish just then. Here is Amy's letter to Santa, just as she wrote it that night:

Dear Santa Claus,

My name is Amy. I am 9 years old. I have a problem at school.
Can you help me, Santa? Kids laugh at me because of the
way I walk and run and talk. I have cerebral palsy. I just want
one day where no one laughs at me or makes fun of me.

Love, Amy

At radio station WJLT in Fort Wayne, Indiana, letters poured in for the Christmas Wish Contest. The workers had fun reading about all the different presents that boys and girls from across the city wanted for Christmas.

When Amy's letter arrived at the radio station, manager Lee Tobin read it carefully. He knew cerebral palsy was a muscle disorder that might confuse the schoolmates of Amy who didn't understand her disability. He thought it would be good for the people in Fort Wayne to hear about this special third grader and her unusual wish. Mr. Tobin called up the local newspaper.

The next day, a picture of Amy and her letter to Santa made the front page of The News Sentinel. The story spread quickly. All across the country, newspapers and radio and television stations reported the story of the little girl in Fort Wayne, Indiana, who asked for such a simple, yet remarkable, Christmas gift-- just one day without teasing.

Suddenly the postman was a regular at the Hagadorn house. Envelopes of all sizes addressed to Amy arrived daily from children and adults all across the nation. They came filled with holiday greetings and words of encouragement.

During that unforgettable Christmas season, over two thousand people from all over the world sent Amy letters of friendship and support. Amy and her family read every single one. Some of the writers had disabilities; some had been teased as children. Each writer had a special message for Amy. Through the cards and letters from strangers, Amy glimpsed a world full of people who truly cared about each other. She realized that no amount or form of teasing could ever make her feel lonely again.

Many people thanked Amy for being brave enough to speak up. Others encouraged her to ignore teasing and to carry her head high. Lynn, a sixth grader from Texas, sent this message:

"I would like to be your friend," she wrote, "and if you want to visit me, we could have fun. No one would make fun of us, cause, if they do, we will not even hear them."

Amy did get her wish of a special day without teasing at South Wayne Elementary School. Additionally, everyone at school got an added bonus. Teachers and students talked together about how bad teasing can make others feel.

That year, the Fort Wayne mayor officially proclaimed December 21st as Amy Jo Hagadorn Day throughout the city. The mayor explained that by daring to make such a simple wish, Amy taught a universal lesson.

"Everyone," said the mayor, "wants and deserves to be treated with respect, dignity and warmth."

~By Alan D. Shultz, from Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul

*Other Stories & More*

"A BEAUTIFUL MIND" Meaningful Life Answers & Encouragement

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Yes You Can!
EXPERIENCE PEACE BY BECOMING PEACE

There are no elaborate sets, no dramatic overture, just three people sitting at a table with a single candle in its center and talking about the most powerful force in the universe — prayer. Each character speaks from the level of his or her own expertise, drawing from their experience examples and insights to support their convictions. In the end one thing will be clear — that though they approach the subject from different angles, every path does merge in the end, and every stream leads into the ocean of life. Each scene begins with the narrator establishing the parameters for the evening's discussion. The entire play contains 7 parts (7 Pathways to Peace) — in this article we excerpted the section dealing with the 4th pathway:

The Fourth Pathway: "If you want to experience Peace, Become Peace."

NARRATOR: How does one become peace? Better still — how do we live our lives in such a manner that everything we do is an expression of compassion, kindness and love, where we become a walking, breathing 'Prayer of Peace'? St. Paul implored the early Christians to "Pray without ceasing." Isn't this what we've been doing? If we have come to realize anything through this conversation, it's that all our thoughts, feelings and emotions are prayers, and that it is impossible for us not to pray without ceasing. The real question becomes, "How do we 'Pray Peace' without ceasing, focusing all our energy on this one goal so that we actually become that which we seem to be seeking?" ...

Forgiveness is the key, the path that leads away from guilt and into the Light. You will see in a moment, in the course of our conversation, that this is where all paths lead in the end, the final resting-place of sin, sickness, pain, and even death. Look to the heart of any discipline, any worldly path or endeavor, and you will find this one formidable truth. Healing cannot happen till we let go of the past, till we allow old blocked energies to dissipate, creating space for a new life to be born. Forgiveness is the only way we can release the shadows that have halted our own spiritual ascent, for in the end, who is there to forgive but ourselves? ...

CONVERSATION: The Mystic, Scientist, Psychologist — Once again the Mystic looked at the piece of paper lying in front of him on the table and read the Pathway written upon it. "The Fourth Pathway says: 'If you want to experience peace — Become peace.' I think that I'll begin our discussion this time. This is a very profound statement, one that we have all touched on in one way or another. We spoke earlier about the law of resonance, the fact that similar frequency patterns tend to be drawn to each other. In other words, we draw into our lives the experiences and people that correspond with our image of ourselves. If we believe we are good and trustworthy, then we'll tend to attract people who are the same. But if we hold a darker image of ourselves, then we are likely to bring people into our lives that reinforce that image, reflecting what we believe to be true about ourselves. If the theory of resonance is true, then it should be easy for us to determine the best way to become emissaries of peace. We cannot bring something to another unless we believe we have that thing within us, or that state of being. To bring peace, we must find that place within us that is peace. It's that simple."

"But what if a person has no experience of that state?" the Scientist asked. "What if their life has been anything but peaceful?"

"That's a good question, and one that any reasonable person should ask. The answer is very important as well. I think we can all agree that there are ultimately only two emotions we are capable of, and that every other emotion we experience is a derivative of one or the other. The first emotion or experience is love and the second is fear.

"We have also said, all of us in our own way, that there is only one force in the universe, and that this force is what some of us call God, the Creator, or maybe the 'Single Unified Consciousness.' God, at least my concept of God, is all-loving. That would mean that only love exists, since it is the product of a Divine Mind that is all pervasive. What is fear then? Is it possible that it is nothing more than a shadow, or perhaps the denial of the experience of love? And is a shadow a 'real thing,' possessing real power or real effects? I would say no, for it is not the opposite of love, but rather the obstruction of love. What is all pervasive can have no opposite."

"That all sounds true," said the Psychologist, turning to face the Mystic. "But how does it apply to today's Pathway?"

"It's simple, really. If love is the foundation of reality, then that means it's active, real and present no matter what, even when it doesn't seem to be. A moment ago the Scientist asked how someone who has never known peace could experience it. Peace, quite obviously, is a derivative of love, not fear. It's within us, even within the person who seems most isolated from the experience, because they cannot be separated from what knows no boundary. Perhaps the peace is hidden beneath many layers of fear and mistrust, but it is there nonetheless ... therefore love is always present, always the foundation of our being, even when fear seems to have eclipsed its radiance."

"I see where you're going," said the Psychologist. "If only love exists, then peace is always present even when it is not apparent. And the law of resonance, which corresponds to the Second Pathway, states that if we focus on a particular experience, even if it is buried, then it must increase."

"Exactly," rejoined the Mystic. "So, even if a person has very little experience of peace, if they focus on love then they must experience love. This is how we become peace, then, simply by focusing on it."

"The ancients didn't have the language of science which we have today," said the Scientist, "so in their language they said that we have forgotten how to love ourselves." ... "Your science is drawing very close to my mysticism," the Mystic said. "Of course it is," the Scientist continued. "That's because truth knows no boundaries. The truth is true, whether expressed through the language of science, psychology, or mysticism."

"But we need some way for people to access this truth," the Psychologist said. "Otherwise these are just high ideas and concepts that cannot be applied. I would suggest, at least from a psychological perspective, that the best way to apply everything we are expressing here today is through forgiveness."

"Once again, we are aligned," the Mystic said to her. "The same would be true from a spiritual point of view as well. But I would suggest a level of forgiveness that is very different from what most people are accustomed to. Forgiveness is normally understood as something we offer to someone who has offended us in some way. This is not forgiveness at all, it is an attack. It is really saying, `You committed an offense against me, and I, in my greater wisdom, am willing to forgive you.' All this does is create separation and continue the conflict. ... We are asked to look past the offense altogether, not judging if someone is worthy of our mercy, but bestowing it equally upon all."

"I would agree with that," the Psychologist said. "The forgiveness you are speaking of brings people closer together because it does not demand retribution. I often ask people to make a list of everyone they can think of who has offended them in any way, then release each person in love. This is very similar to the theory of resonance, which the Mystic spoke about earlier. When we look past the offense that seems to have occurred, then choose to focus on the love that is the foundation of our true relationship, then the experience of love increases. We become that love then, because we were willing to give it to another."

"So, to sum up what we are all saying," the Scientist said, "we become that on which we focus our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. And yet, since love is the foundation of reality, it is the only experience that extends forever because it is synonymous with the Mind of God. Anything that is not aligned with this force is not real, but only a shadow of reality. Do you both agree with this assessment?" They both nodded their heads, and the discussion, at least for that moment, ended.

~ Excerpted from James F. Twyman's book:
Praying Peace: In Conversation with Gregg Braden and Doreen Virtue
(Contributed by Jane at www.The-Cats-Meow.com)

Untangling the Web

WHAT A SITE! "World Holidays" Here's a handy reference calendar from Oanda.com of holidays that are celebrated all around the globe. Oanda.com also offers currency conversion tools. Search by Month or Search by Country

In the Spotlight — For The New Year
IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE

THERE'S A HOLE IN MY SIDEWALK
Autobiography in Five Short Chapters — by Portia Nelson

Just for YOU
SPECIAL TREATS

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. What was Grandma drinking when she got run over by a reindeer?

2. What is Scrooge's favorite two-word phrase?

3. What US city lights the Christmas tree on the Ellipse?

4. In "The Night Before Christmas," what type of headgear does Mamma wear?

5. What Irish song was a holiday hit for Bing Crosby?

6. What do six of the twelve gifts from my true love have in common?

7. What is the name of the most famous Christmas ballet?

8. What popular Christmas toy was named after Theodore Roosevelt?

9. What does Alvin want for Christmas?

10. Who wrote "A Christmas Carol"?

11. Who wrote the music for "The Nutcracker"?

12. What is the German title of "O Christmas Tree"?

13. What film introduced "Silver Bells" and starred Bob Hope?

14. What did the lamb say to the shepherd boy in the song?

15. What saint brought Christmas to Ireland in the fifth century?

16. What three characters sing "The Chipmunk Song"?

17. What army do you associate with the kettle?

18. In what song do we "take a cup o'kindness"?

19. What seasonal plant is Encinitas, California noted for?

20. What is the name of Scrooge's clerk?

And here are your answers .... how did you do?

1. EGGNOG — 2. "BAH! HUMBUG!" — 3. WASHINGTON, D.C. — 4. A KERCHIEF — 5. CHRISTMAS IN KILLARNEY
6. THEY ARE ALL BIRDS — 7. NUTCRACKER — 8. THE TEDDY BEAR— 9. A HULA-HOOP — 10. CHARLES DICKENS
11. TCHAIKOVSKY — 12. O TANNENBAUM — 13. THE LEMON DROP KID — 14. DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR? — 15. ST. PATRICK
16. ALVIN, THEODORE, AND SIMON — 17. SALVATION ARMY — 18. AULD LANG SYNE — 19. POINSETTIA — 20. BOB CRATCHIT

~Contributed by Jane at www.The-Cats-Meow.com
. ARCHIVES

Fascinating Facts
"RUDOLPHINA" PERHAPS?

Could Santa's reindeer all be girls? CHECK HERE: