LOVE WORKS DAILY 01/30/07 - TOO BUSY BEING TOO BUSY

LOVE WORKS DAILY 01/30/07 - TOO BUSY BEING TOO BUSY

Hello Friends! I hope today finds you happy and well
and filled with the infinity that is love and the
capacity to give and receive it freely today!

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INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT:
(Great Thoughts By History's Inspired Thinking Men and Women)

How very happily we live,
free from busyness
among those who are busy.
Among busy people,
free from busyness we dwell.

-Dhammapada, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

TIM's BLOG
(Random Thoughts and Tim's Daily World):

Good morning all!  Another happy Tuesday in our little corner
of the world.  I'm hoping happiness for you in your corner
as well, whether it be big or small.

Moving to our new home in Southern Oregon has really helped
us to slow down and I can honestly say that in many ways
I have never been happier in my life.

Things are much more simple for certain.  I do wish that
I could work a little less, and have a bit more time
to play, but this world DOES expect a certain amount
of dollars.  And unfortunately my good looks and a friendly
smile does not satisfy the phone company.

Happy and Un-Busy Day to you!

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
(Brand New and Classic Love Works Essays 2001-2007)

Busy! Busy! Busy!

I'm not very happy when I'm busy.

I've read a number of books about and have, at times, been involved in
a grass roots movement called "Voluntary Simplicity". It's philosophy
is that people are most happy when they operate at the most basic level.
This includes spiritual, emotional, financial or material,
and physical levels.

In other words, you stay healthiest, by placing the least amount of
stress on the various aspects of your existance.

First, is to ACTUALLY LET GO OF THE BAGGAGE that weighs you down. This
means GET RID of all the junk. That closet full of stuff does not make
any of us feel better. The stacks and piles, heaps and jumbles just
makes us feel bad.   And even if you have few things, and they are
neatly organized,
those THINGS are not making you HAPPY. They are just things. IF the
thought of throwing away or giving away some or all of your THINGS
causes you terrible pain, you are experiencing terrible PAIN over the
things that are supposed to be making you happy. This goes for finances
as well, if the thought of not having money causes you great pain, or
actually not having money, causes you great pain, then you are not
living in a financially simple manner. Your great treasures (or lack of
them)
are actually, then, great burdons.

So, Simplify your material world.

Second, is to have simpler, looser, emotional bonds and attachments,
to people, places, events, expectations, etc. Let go of the EMOTIONAL
BAGGAGE that burdons you. THIS ONE is very challenging to me. But, in
short, it means don't let things both real or imaginary get you upset
(at least very often). Relax and enjoy the moment.

So, Simplify your emotional world.

Then the idea is to have a simple spiritual practice and not let the
weight of your spiritual beliefs cause you to worry and feel guilty and
suffer. Let go of the SPIRITUAL BAGGAGE that burdons you. (If you break
most religions down to it, there usually is a pretty simple, reassuring
central theme....if you don't have an organized religion you follow,
most people can still recognized a fairly simple order to the universe
...surprisingly simple in it's complexity...and no matter where you go
or what you call it most recognize the theme is that of LOVE. ).

So, Simplify your spiritual world.

And finally SLOOOOWWWW DOWN!!!!

And this, theoretically, should be the simple unavoidable final step.

If you have stopped chasing money (that you have to organize, balance,
calculate, worry about, etc.) and have stopped
your endless pursuit of material objects (that you have to organize,
repair, clean, worry about etc.), you will now have alot more free
time.

With that free time, you can use it to release the emotional bonds that
you have that cause you grief (that you have to organize, balance,
adjust, calculate, worry about, etc.).

And that frees up even more time to live in a natural and spirit
oriented condition.

In the end you will be DOING LESS, because there is LESS TO DO.
You will just be EXPERIENCING MORE...because you have so much more time
to EXPERIENCE.

I was thinking about these things just yesterday (while I was too busy
to write a LOVE WORKS, by the way, GREAT SIGH!!!)

I like to have things simple. I don't always do it well. But I am
happiest when I live life as it comes, and enjoy the moment.

I don't like to have things be difficult. If they are, I'd just rather
not do them. (I don't mind things being challenging, and I don't mind
putting in an effort...but I don't like things to be difficult....but
that's another story)

Unfortunately, I don't live in a society that values my simplicity
the way I do. And the demands of our "American Way of Life" can kinda
get me down.

If we are raised to WORK HARD, BEHAVE OURSELVES, GET A GOOD JOB,
ACHIEVE FINANCIAL SECURITY and CHASE YOUR DREAMS, where is the FINISH
LINE?

When we stop breathing?

Most of the people I know if I ask them...."Do you have a couple hours
that we could just sit and listen to music...or talk....or just sit and
meditate quietly together..or read?" will respond: "I can't
TODAY....I'm too busy....Maybe next Thursday I can work in a half hour.
Give me a call."

As I continue to think about it, I'm not happy that way.

Why are we living....if we are TOO BUSY....to enjoy life?

Why do we value our relationships with other people and animals and
nature...
and for that matter, our higher power....if we don't have the time
for them?

Are we just TOO BUSY being TOO BUSY?

Love In Thought! Love In Word! Love In Action!

Love To You Today!

 

"May we endeavor today to increase our understanding and appreciation of
what others have given and contributed to us. And develop constant,
mindful consideration of how our thoughts and actions will BENIFICIALLY
CONTRIBUTE to others"

The best to you today in discovering the answers to life's difficult
questions!

 

A Final Thought:

Love is always the right thing to do. Even if it isn't the easiest
thing to do.

May we have compassion for the struggles of others, wisdom to
acknowledge our own, and courage to address them both every day.

Respectfully,
Tim

This is a daily newsletter of LOVE WORKS DAILY:
A collective of individuals of different beliefs and
backgrounds, dedicated to a better world by living LOVE in thought,
word and action. Compassion. Wisdom. Courage.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Peace be with you.

from LOVE WORKS DAILY 03/11/03
(c)2007 T.Thomas Henry

LOVE WORKS DAILY 01/29/07 - The Loving Argument

LOVE WORKS DAILY 01/29/07 - The Loving Argument

TIM's BLOG
(Random Thoughts and Tim's Daily World):

Good morning all.  And thanks for joining me again today
on this journey I call LOVE WORKS DAILY.

As some of you may be already aware,  my youngest brother Ted
was in a serious accident this last week that involved
an explosion which badly damaged his home and left him with
severe burns.

The full facts of the matter, as of this writing, are still
unclear but the news of it is being widely reported thoughout
the NW on television and in newspapers.

For this reason,  I am reprinting one of the lastest
accounts of the incident below in my IN THE NEWS section.
Both because many of you know me and my family personally,
and because I try to keep this as HONEST a forum as I can
in terms of my personal sharing.  Sure,  there are things
that everyone might prefer to be left unsaid.

But when you start editing your life to others sometimes,
you learn to start doing it all the time.

In truth,  I am not of the belief that, in regards to the
explosion, my brother did anything or set out to cause any
real harm.  And whatever damage he has done, including the
serious injury to himself, was purely the unintentional.

But that is not my focus at all.  People make mistakes.
It happens.

My focus is on the gratitude and happiness that I have that
he suffered only the injuries that he did and that this
was not the potentially fatal accident that it could have
been.

I have not been particulary close with my youngest brother
the last few years,  but at Christmas time I stopped at
his business and got a warm hug and such a friendly reception
and a truly wonderful visit that I wondered to myself
when I heard he had been in an explosion....

"Was that my last visit with him?"

If it was,  I'm glad it was such a good one,  but I am
so wonderfully happy to hear that his injuries were
not a severe as could have been,  or initially feared,
and that we will, in all likelihood, recover completely
and without impairment.

You just never know when you can get that unexpected call
in the middle of the night.  I am SO glad this was not one
of those nights.

I am asking that the members and readers of LOVE WORKS
keep Ted, and his family, in your thoughts and prayers as he recovers
and the aftermath of this event unfolds.

Thank you so much for your love and concern!

Below I will publish the account of the incident without comment:

IN THE NEWS: A Love Works Persective
(Today's News From A LOVE WORKS point of view)

Blast, fire destroy house, injure man

Ingredients for fireworks played role, officials say

BY EUNICE KIM
Statesman Journal

January 28, 2007

A Salem man suffered burns to his arm after several
 explosions and a fire -- thought to be caused by fireworks
 chemicals -- blew the windows and garage door out
 of his house, officials said Saturday.

Investigators think that the explosions and fire,
 which occurred shortly before 10 p.m. Friday
at 432 Clarmar Drive NE, started after Theodore
 Thomas Henry, 32, put what he thought was trash into
 his wood burning stove, said Deputy Kevin Rau of
the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

The debris and fire from the initial explosion
 ignited chemicals around the house.

"It was like a chain-reaction," Rau said.

On Saturday the federal Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms, Oregon State Police bomb
squad, Marion County Sheriff's Office, State
Fire Marshal's Office and Marion County Fire District 1
 were still investigating. They cordoned off the
house and evacuated nearby homes as a precaution.

Investigators removed all of the chemicals
from Henry's house, Rau said.

The explosions and fire destroyed many of the
interior walls, causing $90,000 in damage.
The house was a total loss, said fire chief
Roy Hari of the Marion County Fire District No. 1.

Henry escaped from his home before the major
explosions occurred, but he suffered severe burns
 to his right arm, Rau said. He was taken to Salem
Hospital. No one else was injured.

Investigators found black powder and chemicals
used to make fireworks in Henry's house, and
 Rau said Henry later admitted he made fireworks.
 Investigators also discovered about 18 marijuana
 plants in his house.

"They're definitely going to be charges related
to the manufacturing of explosives," Rau said.

Neighbors said they did not know Henry but had heard
 smaller explosions coming from his house during
the past couple of weeks. Many heard and saw the
explosions and fire Friday night.

Mandi Mills, who lives on Clara Court NE directly
 behind Henry's house, heard two explosions about
 45 minutes apart and then looked outside.

"The windows rattled," she said. "It was like a
 mushroom cloud of smoke with some sparks. Then huge
flames shot up with the cloud. It smelled like gun powder."

Mills and her mother, Linda Lemmon, said the
incident worried them.

"I don't want people with explosives living
this close to our house," Lemmon said.

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
(Brand New and Classic Love Works Essays 2001-2007)

Argument gets a bad rap.

Who wants to fight?  Right?

Most people think of arguments as fights....people
being upset and saying mean and nasty things.

I think, in truth,  that is what most people have.....

Fights.

Here is the first definition of argument:

1. A discussion in which disagreement is expressed; a debate.
A quarrel; a dispute.

And I'm not sure that this kind of argument does serve.
It is a good excuse for us to vent our emotions on another person.
In many cases, we blame them, and we feel good by being victorious
over them.

But I think argument is a good thing.  A healthy thing.  Something
that ultimately strengthens our relationships, and shows that we care
about those we are with.

Other definitions of argument are:

A course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating truth
or falsehood

A fact or statement put forth as proof or evidence;
a reason

A set of statements in which one follows logically as
 a conclusion from the others.

I think these are well-stated and valuable.

And I think I have a pretty good.....well, ...argument.

The first questions,  and most important questions you need to ask
yourself when thinking about arguments are:

Why am I about to engage in this argument?
What is my motive?
What do I hope to accomplish?

1. I am about to engage in this argument because I am really pissed off!
BAD IDEA....

2. My motive for starting this argument is to finally put that little
know-it-all in his place!
I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL....

3. I hope to make her feel like crap,  and beg me for forgiveness!
Do YOU REALLY WANT THAT?

See...

When you don't identify WHY you would start an argument....
that is when it goes horribly wrong.  That is when it is
unproductive and makes things worse.

How about this?

1. I am about to engage in this argument because there are certain
facts about our current situation in which we disagree. If we
were able to come to a more mutual understanding of the situation
we could work, or play, or live together in a more considerate
and loving way!

OK...that's more like it....You would actually bicker and
fight MORE without having the argument....so just getting things
out in the open in a loving a respectful way and trying to
come to a mutually acceptable conclusion benefits all.

Continued in Part II

From LOVE WORKS DAILY 08/11/05
(c)2007 T.Thomas Henry

LOVE WORKS DAILY 01/29/07 - The Loving Argument

PART II

2. My motive is simple.  I love and care about this other human
being.  I don't want this continued disagreement to cause
further hard feelings.  A discussion of the matter may be
all that is necessary to be more compassionate and understanding.

3.  I hope to come to a mutually acceptable conclusion or comprimise.
I hope that the person I am arguing understands that I am
spending this valuable time talking about the issue because I care.
I am committing my time resources to this topic because I
want to AGREE....not DISAGREE.  We already do that!

So thats my argument for determining the correct reason WHY....when considering
engaging another person in an argument.

Next is WHAT....

What is an argument?

For many, it is pounding the other person into submission.....
it is insisting that ones OPINION is more important that another
persons opinion.

But for the truth...let's go back to our definition....

An argument is....

A course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating truth
or falsehood

A set of statements in which one follows logically as
 a conclusion from the others.

It is not an attempt to determine WHO is right.
It is an attempt to determine WHAT is right.

Follow that?

All ego aside....the TRUTH IS more important than being right.

I think it should be.

The truth is always the truth regardless of WHO comes up it.
Truth is a constant.  (Totally differant than perception
or opinion...those change with the wind....)

Opinion might be a good starting point.  But the object
of an argument is not to PROVE you opinion,  but rather to present it
and support it or not support it. (Opinion is often refered to
as one's POSITION regarding a matter.)

If the evidence does not support your opinion, when it is all
presented...then you must alter your position.

That's the last part of the definition...

A set of statements in which one follows logically as
 a conclusion from the others.

People HATE this...and I don't really know why....

I think it is because some people don't know about LOGIC
and how to build a group of statement to a logical conclusion.

I've heard this..."I don't care about your facts and figures....
I think that he's a crook, and you can't change my mind!"

To me....That is known asthe..."I'm not going to participate...because you
might change my mind, and I couldn't have that...defense."

If you participate in an "actual" argument....you have to listen.
You have to be willing to listen,  understand,  and alter
your position if the evidence warrants it.

You can come to end of an argument...and both of you have
presented strong evidence for both sides.....and no conclusion
can be made. 

But if you don't have an open mind...you will never have an
actual argument....you will have fights,  lectures,  debates, disagreement
knock-down drag-out screaming matches...but not an "actual"
productive argument.

I am now going to conclude my arguments supporting the value of
a "productive argument" with an example.

I don't know how many of you have kids...especially teenagers....
but this takes me back to my original statement about how
you need to know the motive and reason to have an argument
in the first place...or not have one at all (and for
that matter, have a mutual understanding of that motive!)

Every so often, with our teenagers, we would have something that
really concerned us.

One time, one of the kids called us late at night to ask if they could
stay the night with the friend they were visiting.

Not being a parent with our heads in the sand,  we agree to
let them stay the night,  but the next day we want to have
a talk.

Then we get the "oh no, here comes the lecture look...."

And for 45 minutes...our teenage SURVIVES the lecture,  every
once in a while interjecting the "But I didn't have anything
to drink!" or the "There was NO PARTY, why are you accusing me?",
but otherwise tuning out everything we say.

Now,  OUR motives for the converstion or argument was clear.

A course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating truth
or falsehood

A fact or statement put forth as proof or evidence;
a reason

A set of statements in which one follows logically as
 a conclusion from the others.

1.  We love our children.

2.  We want them to be safe and to make good choices.

3.  We have facts and evident to present that may help them
to make good choices.

4.  We love them.

We never accused them of drinking at a party and thus calling
us because they were too drunk to drive (although they certainly
sounded drunk on the phone...and THANK THE MAKER they didn't decide
to drive home).

We did spend our time resources to present a strong argument
against having parties without adult supervision and the risks
involved in underaged drinking and drinking in general.

We had our "argument" because we cared and wanted them to care
and know that we cared. It's a loving thing that most parents do,
when talking with their kids.

But most kids...DO NOT appreciate the motive or reason.....

They just think that their parents are mean and don't love them and
have nothing better to do then harrass them about things that
are none of their business.

After all, a teenager knows everything.  And an adult is just
there to be a pain in the butt.

Little do they know, that if their parents actually didn't love
them...they wouldn't give them the time of day.  This kind of
parent would just say...WHY BOTHER???

I have wondered, as I have been in some SO-CALLED arguments
with other adults.....

Have we really grown up? 
Do we really know or care why someone would take the time
to discuss or disagree?
Is it possible that if someone argues with us,  it is because
they DO CARE and want things to be better?

And if they care about us....

Do we take the time and effort to contribute to finding a
solution without getting angry and lashing out?

Or are we the know-it-all teenager?

Or the "Why Bother" parent?

It may not be conclusive.......

But I think I've made some good arguments.....

And that didn't hurt so bad...did it?

(What do you mean..."Sorry, I wasn't listening?")

Love In Thought! Love In Word! Love In Action!

Love To You Today!

 

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Peace be with you.

From LOVE WORKS DAILY 08/11/05
(c)2007 T.Thomas Henry

LOVE WORKS DAILY 01/26/07 - Einstein Redux

LOVE WORKS DAILY 01/26/07 - Einstein Redux

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
(Brand New and Classic Love Works Essays 2001-2007)

Part of today's LOVE WORKS was written by an unknown author.
One of those "send around the internet" kinds of things
that no one really know who wrote it or how it started..or
frankly whether it's even true...but it's good enough
that it keeps making the rounds.

One of the reasons that I'm sharing this story is that
it illustrates an important point to me.

Men of Science need not be Men without God or a spiritual
side.  Albert Einstein was one of those people.  He never,
in all his wonderous discoveries, ever concluded that there
was "No God".  He couldn't exactly describe GOD,  but
he found there was no evidence to concretely disprove God's
existence.  He could not find any evidence that
PROVED the existence of GOD concretely either, but to Einstein,
the lack of solid evidence for OR against something DID NOT
MEAN that it was not true...it simply meant there
was no solid evidence for or against it...YET.

Finally, before I share the story, men of science often
use "I don't know" as the beginning of scientific quests...not
the end point.  Men of faith...often use "I don't know" as
one of the strongest proofs of their faith.  The "I don't know"
is the ultimate way to have faith and trust in a higher
intelligence. 

Einstein was not afraid of "I don't know".  As a matter of
fact, given any understanding of the complexity and vastness
of infinity, men of science and faith WOULD HAVE TO CONCLUDE,
that no matter how much you know,  the amount you DO NOT
know is even greater.

Einstein was one of those people.  And although as a avid
student of philosophy, I still see holes in the argument made
below...and it's logic...In the end it leaves you even more
"I Don't Knows"...which for me..is just fine.

 

A University professor at a well-known institution
 of higher learning challenged his students with
 this question.

"Did God create everything that exists?"

A student bravely replied, "Yes he did!"

"God created everything?" The professor asked.

"Yes sir, he certainly did," the student replied.

The professor answered, "If God created everything;
 then God created evil. And, since evil exists,
and according to the principal that our works
define who we are, then we can assume God is evil."

The student became quiet and did not answer
the professor's hypothetical definition.
 The professor, quite pleased with himself,
boasted to the students that he had proven
once more that the Christian faith was a myth.

Another student raised his hand and said,
 "May I ask you a question, professor?"

"Of course", replied the professor.

The student stood up and asked, "Professor does cold exist?"

"What kind of question is this? Of course it exists.
 Have you never been cold?"

The other students snickered at the young man's question.

The young man replied, "In fact sir, cold does not exist.
 According to the laws of physics, what we consider
cold is in reality the absence of heat. Every body or
 object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits
 energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have
 or transmit energy.
< B R> Absolute zero (-460F) is the total absence
of heat; and all matter becomes inert and incapable
of reaction at that temperature. Cold does not exist.
 We have created this word to describe how we feel
 if we have no heat."

The student continued, "Professor, does darkness exist?"

The professor responded, "Of course it does."

The student replied, "Once again you are wrong
 sir, darkness does not exist either. Darkness
 is in reality the absence of light. Light we
can study, but not darkness. In fact, we can
use Newton's prism to break white light into many
colors and study the various wavelengths of each
 color. You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray
 of light can break into a world of darkness and
 illuminate it. How can you know how dark a
certain space is?

You measure the amount of light present.
Isn't this correct? Darkness is a term used
 by man to describe what happens when there
is no light present."

Finally the young man asked the professor,
 "Sir, does evil exist?"

Now uncertain, the professor responded,
"Of course, as I have already said. We see it everyday.
 It is in the daily examples of man's inhumanity to man.
 It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere
 in the world. These manifestations are nothing else
but evil.

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist,
 sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself.
Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just
like darkness and cold, a word that man has
created to describe the absence of God.

*(God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what
 happens when man does not have God's love present
 in his heart.)

 It's like the cold that comes when there
is no heat, or the darkness that comes when there is
no light."

 

The professor sat down.

The young man's name -- Albert Einstein

Love In Thought! Love In Word! Love In Action!

Love To You Today!

*This section is not traditionally included in the argument
and appears to have been added at some point, but was included
in the email send to me so has been reprinted intact so
not to appear that I have altered the story sent me.
Most accounts that I have heard do no include the
marked section, and although there certainly appears to be
nothing wrong with it, Einstein himself, by all indication,
is unlikely to have spoken this part.)

 

"May we endeavor today to increase our understanding and appreciation of
what others have given and contributed to us. And develop constant,
mindful consideration of how our thoughts and actions will BENIFICIALLY
CONTRIBUTE to others"

The best to you today in discovering the answers to life's difficult
questions!

 

A Final Thought:

Love is always the right thing to do. Even if it isn't the easiest
thing to do.

May we have compassion for the struggles of others, wisdom to
acknowledge our own, and courage to address them both every day.

Respectfully,
Tim

This is a daily newsletter of LOVE WORKS DAILY:
A collective of individuals of different beliefs and
backgrounds, dedicated to a better world by living LOVE in thought,
word and action. Compassion. Wisdom. Courage.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Peace be with you.

(c)2007 T.Thomas Henry

LOVE WORKS DAILY 01/25/07 - EINSTEIN'S FORMULA FOR SUCCESS

LOVE WORKS DAILY 01/25/07 - EINSTEIN'S FORMULA FOR SUCCESS

Hello Friends! I hope today finds you happy and well
and filled with the infinity that is love and the
capacity to give and receive it freely today!

Join our mailing list:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/loveworksdaily/

Or read us on the web:
http://loveworks.ebloggy.com/
http://loveworksdaily.blogspot.com/

INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT:
(Great Thoughts By History's Inspired Thinking Men and Women)

"Try not to become a man of success but rather try to
 become a man of value." -- Albert Einstein

TIM's BLOG
(Random Thoughts and Tim's Daily World):

Good Thursday Morning,  and thank you very much for your
patience as I have gone the last couple days.

I seem to have found a bug that is keeping many of you from
posting to the Yahoo list.  To this point,  unless you
are a confirmed member of Yahoo, you were on a "read only"
list.  I wasn't aware of this.  I have hopeful corrected that
allowing all of you the ability to reply and post to the
group.  I have both the Yahoo and Topica groups open.  You
may decide which you like better. As a whole, I like Yahoo because
it is more reliable and user friendly.  However,  many of
you reading this do not have Yahoo accounts,  so you wouldn't
be able to take advantage of the features.

In non-boring new,  I was stopped by a Klamath County sheriff
the other day.  I was certain I was going to get a ticket,  but
he issued me a warning only.  I mention this because I honestly
didn't think that there was any traffic patrol on the rural
highways here.  They do respond to incidents,  but I'd never
seen a radar gun at all. Not even in Klamath Falls itself.

Just shows that when you make assumptions and take things for
granted,  I can come back and bite you in the butt.

I was grateful to not get the ticket,  I think he just ran
by license and saw everything was clean and didn't want to bother
with the paperworks since I was only a few miles over.

Anyways,  tonight my 7th grader gets an award at his school
for being a honor student in math.  Next week he is entering
a nationwide mathmatics competition called Mathcounts, and
attempts to quality for the state competition next Friday.
He has studied like a wildman,  and knows math (like Trigonometry)
that even his teacher doesn't know and can't help him with.
I am hoping he won't be too discouraged if he does not do well.
On the other hand,  winning an award might just be the thrill
of a lifetime for him.

Speaking of my son...last year I wrote about him and his
idol at the time...Albert Einstein.

I thought I would share it again.

Love to you today!

 

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
(Brand New and Classic Love Works Essays 2001-2007)

The other day I printed out a paper called Einstein's Formula for
Success by Ron White for my 11 year old son.  Einstein has always been kind of a
hero for him.  People pick different heroes.  My son picked Einstein.

And as a result, I have been able to teach him a number of
valuable lessons about life by relating (Einstein Humor here) his
life and theories to everyday situations.

This morning I found the above quote about not trying to be a
success...by Albert Einstein.

Interesting enough,  it is a scientific and philosophical premise that just because
one CAN do a thing, it does not mean one SHOULD do a thing.

And, of course,  as many of you know....much of Albert's work
regarding atomic energy he spent much of the rest of his life trying to
keep others from using for war and destruction.

Yes, we could build an atomic bomb,  but we should not do so, he would say.
We did.  And this saddened Einstein tremendously. He was a No Nukes
guy, in the end.

But anyways...Einstein has this formula for Success.
He had a formula for most everything...except where to find
a comb, appearantly.

And the formula goes like this:

Einstein said, "If A equals success, then the formula is: A=X+Y+Z.
X is work.
Y is play.
Z is keep your mouth shut."

I know.  I Know.  It's algebra.  But it's not quantum physics or
anything.  We'll get through it....here...take my hand....

A is success.

And to get success,  ultimately,  Einstein said that you needed
the sum total of three elements.

First,  you start with an atom of ionized plutonium....

NO

That's a different formula.

First, you measure each of the three elements......work, play,
keep your mouth shut....and you combine them in such a way
to produce A (success).

Easy enough.

99 parts WORK (X) + 1 part PLAY (Y) + 0 parts SILENCE (Z) = A (Success).

See...we've done it!

Except....is that Success to you?

Working 99 percent of the time.....?

Never shutting up????

So although Einstein gave us this formula,  he didn't tell us
what particular MIX was right for each of us.

For a monk in India it might be 10 parts WORK,  5 parts PLAY and
85 parts SILENCE.

For a surfer, it might be 5 percent WORK, 90 perfect PLAY,  5 percent
SILENCE.

The Silence,  or KEEPING YOUR MOUTH SHUT is my favorite
part and possibly the KEY element that Einstein discovered
and a secret to success.

Learning when to STOP talking and start listening.  Listen to
others.  Listen to yourself.  Listen to nature.  Listen to
a higher power.

Sometimes we get really wrapped up in hearing our own
voice that we are miserable as a result of the noise we insist
on making.

Einstein was not a talkative guy.  But,  as history would show,
he didn't have much to prove.  He did his work.  And he did
his play (although it would appear not much of it) and otherwise
he kept his mouth shut.

Alot of idle chatter didn't amount to success to him.

Well, I think think this is an intersting formula. BUT... Einstein
himself said that we are way too caught up in being a success.
And what we should focus on is contibuting something of value.

Success is possible,  no matter how you define it.  And feeling like
a success in your heart is very important.

But ultimately, "May we endeavor today to increase our understanding and appreciation of
what others have given and contributed to us. And develop constant,
mindful consideration of how our thoughts and actions will BENIFICIALLY
CONTRIBUTE to others" (Eastern Prayer)

Einstein knew that success was possible,  but not essential.
What was essential is that we are of value,  and that we contibribute
whatever we can of value for the benifit of others.

As a final note I am going to modify his formula,  primarily
the terms,  not the meaning and see if it rings true. It feels
similar to me...but less focused of material success.

If A equals valuable contribution, then the formula is: A=X+Y+Z.
X is courage (to do the right thing).
Y is compassion (to do that thing in the most loving way) .
Z is wisdom ( to know how to do that even if it means
             to keep our mouths shut.)

Just a thought!

Have a happy day!

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Peace be with you.

From LOVE WORKS DAILY 08/10/05
(c)2007 T.Thomas Henry

LOVE WORKS DAILY 01/22/07 - READERS RESPOND #1 - Amy, Jenifer, Tonya & Mark (2002)

LOVE WORKS DAILY 01/22/07 - READERS RESPOND #1 - Amy, Jenifer, Tonya & Mark (2002)

Hello Friends! I hope today finds you happy and well
and filled with the infinity that is love and the
capacity to give and receive it freely today!

Join our mailing list:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/loveworksdaily/

Or read us on the web:
http://loveworks.ebloggy.com/
http://loveworksdaily.blogspot.com/

INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT:
(Great Thoughts By History's Inspired Thinking Men and Women)

There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day.

-Alexander Woollcott

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
(Brand New and Classic Love Works Essays 2001-2007)

Over the years, many of you have written in with your thoughts
and feelings regarding the LOVE WORKS philosophy and about specific
essays.

I am reprinting some of these comments as I think they help
to show the "bigger" picture of LOVE WORKS DAILY.

This newsletter is not just about TIM and what he has to
say but also about it's readers.  In truth, the readers (that's
you) are the most important part of this endeavor.

Love does really work if you give it a chance.

If you have a comment or idea,  be sure to post it to the group..

loveworksdaily@wildblue.net

If you have a more extended essay or idea...send that in as well
to the same address and write FOOD FOR THOUGHT at the top so I
know that it is meant as a LOVE WORKS guest author essay.

These letters meant ALOT to me. I cannot say how much they meant
and mean.

So here is a selection of the best of READERS RESPOND...Enjoy
and Thanks!!!

Tim!

Happy Vacation! I hope you have lots of R&R and loads of love and FUN...
and... NAPS!! An author named SARK that I read often says that the more
naps we take the more prosperous we are. I'll buy that! What a great
recipe for success!

I look forward to reading the Classic LOVE WORKS. As a relatively new
subscriber, it will all be new to me! Well... new LOVE WORKS but a time
honored message. Thank you for being a messenger at this time and place.

We all need to hear and be reminded of the choice we face from moment to
moment. Just about everything is a choice between love and fear. At least
that is how it looks in my life. Fear is at the root of most of my
"negative" emotions. Anger?? ... yep...masking fear. Jealousy?? ...
yep...always fear. Judgement?? ... yep... no question that is fear.
Rejection, abandonment, anxiety, insecurity... yep yep yep... fear.

So... for today... I choose love. I honor ALL my feelings... but I want to
my actions in life to reflect a loving heart and mind rather than a wounded,
fearful one. When faced with any situation both dealing with myself,
another person, or an inanimate object... "What would a loving person do
here?" is a great question to ask myself to get a better perspective on how
to act...rather than react to my world.

Have a great time off! Take care and love to you and yours!

amy :)

Tim,
Wow, you've done some really deep thinking and I'm
impressed with your conclusions. I think we all hold
pain from our past in, in some ways. The trick is
realizing when you're doing it. 14 years ago my
brother died, who was my best friend and my father all
in one. It was a complete shock and one I've yet
recovered from as well. I think it affects my
relationships with those I love to this day.   I think
I may be subconsciously afraid that anyone I love will
also be taken from me. Instead of being afraid to
love, it makes me sometimes paranoid and afraid when I
shouldn't be. Last week my husband and babies drove
all night long to go to Oregon (to see you). Granted
it was winter time and there are mountains to cross.
But the weather was mostly fine. Yet the entire week I
had this sick feeling of certainty they were never
coming back. I didn't enjoy my little "vacation" at
all. Now being aware of the problem is most of the
answer, but in the future I'll have to endeavor to
learn to trust a bit more and think more rationally.
Wish me luck!

Thanks for writing again.

Jenifer

Wow, now those are some thoughts to get one thinking!
I've never heard it put quite that way. I know I've
thought a lot this year about priorities since having
babies. I think my family is my biggest priority, but
I spend a lot of time at home each night trying to get
work done for the next day. And how often do I call
my sister, who is close to the most important person
in my world? Maybe 4 times a week, but I could do
more. And what about all the other family that means
so much? I get so wrapped up in surviving, I don't
take enough time by far to do the important things.
Thanks for making me think today, Tim!
Jenifer

Hi. Just thought I would chime in about priorities in life.
I have also had the misfortune to guestion my priorities
in my work invironment. My position was in management and
 I work with adult who have special needs. I have
 ( had --- I chose to get out of management-- )a job
description and job duties and extra job duties and last minute
favors and emergency meetings and, ..and..... But my conflict
was when my duties were not the priorities of the people I
was supporting. Do I forget the report due next week because
 someone needs me to talk and reassure them or just needs me
 to take them out. Do I get the write up because I didn't turn
 in my budget on time or do I get it done and take away time
from those I support or time away from my family by finishing
 it while at home?   Big decisions which caused me great
conflict within myself and conflict with those around me
...including my family. Luckily, I have Tim who was able
to work me through alot of my old programming. I see where
my priorities lie now. But sometimes I still need to sit
down and debate with myself (and Tim on occassion) which
is really a priority and which is really a guilt ridden decision.
 And sometimes my priorities loose out.

Tonya

Hello Tim,

I hope this e-mail find you well and in good spirits.
I have really enjoyed reading your Love Works Daily.
 I would like some history. How long have you been
 authoring the newsletter? Are you actually authoring
 the newsletter? I have created a file to save them
and have used the content to enrich my managers in our
 weekly meetings. I have always been an individual
that enjoys reading uplifting material. We are inundated
 every day with so many negative thoughts and phrases. I recall
hearing just the other day that children hear over 400
negative statements in an average day compared to only 32
positive comments. Can you imagine the effect of a young
 mind constantly receiving a negative message!  

Thanks again for your inspirational thoughts. Keep up
the good work!

Take care and "Love to you today!"

Mark

Love In Thought! Love In Word! Love In Action!

Love To You Today!

 

"May we endeavor today to increase our understanding and appreciation of
what others have given and contributed to us. And develop constant,
mindful consideration of how our thoughts and actions will BENIFICIALLY
CONTRIBUTE to others"

The best to you today in discovering the answers to life's difficult
questions!

 

A Final Thought:

Love is always the right thing to do. Even if it isn't the easiest
thing to do.

May we have compassion for the struggles of others, wisdom to
acknowledge our own, and courage to address them both every day.

Respectfully,
Tim

This is a daily newsletter of LOVE WORKS DAILY:
A collective of individuals of different beliefs and
backgrounds, dedicated to a better world by living LOVE in thought,
word and action. Compassion. Wisdom. Courage.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Peace be with you.

LOVE WORKS DAILY 08/09/05
(c)2007 T.Thomas Henry

LOVE WORKS DAILY 01/19/07 - Doing That Sacred Thing

LOVE WORKS DAILY 01/19/07 - Doing That Sacred Thing

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
(Brand New and Classic Love Works Essays 2001-2007)

I have written over 500 of these LOVE WORKS essays at this point.
Is that hard to believe or what?

For those of you that have been along for the whole ride,
thank you so much.

I do get to the point sometimes where I wonder what to
write next.  It's not writers block,  but rather a case
of having covered all the bases,  and having to think
of new bases.

Something I used to do alot more in the early day (way
back in 2002) was offer up what I would call..."The Love
Works" system.

This included "15 Minutes" and "The Middle Road".
If you don't remember those,  I'm sure that they will
come back up in repeats sometime soon, and they are
always mentioned to me (especially the 15 minutes one)
as being helpful and impactful.  I am so glad about that.

Another one was the 'LOVE WORKS PLAN".  I suggested
that for one week,  eveyone reading this write or print
out LOVE WORKS on a piece of paper and post it somewhere.
Don't do anything else...but when and if someone mentions it,
tell them what the words mean to you.

I got alot of positive feedback on that one as well.  And I
still have 2 or 3 signs posted today.

What was and is great about these "PLANS" is that it gives a
person something to do.

Someone commented to me about the huge growth of the
Mormon Church around the world.  And when I was thinking about
it,  it was very similar to the huge growth of the Catholic
and Muslim religions. The one common factor amongst all
of these groups is the at they were "hands on" movements.

They gave you things to DO...in many cases not just suggestions,
but requirements to belong.

You cannot be a practicing Muslim, or Catholic, or Hindu, or Mormon,
and DO NOTHING.  The religions themselves require certain actions
be taken at certain times.  A certain code of behavior is
in place that is required for success.

People like to have the "rules" spelled out to them.

It's very helpful to have it in black and white in front of you,
and regardless of how difficult, know where you are going.

There are 12 steps,  a ten commandments, and five precepts...
the list goes on and on....

Although in a free society,  we do have many many choices,
we also tend to be gravitated toward diet plans and self help
books....

What works less well is vague instruction.

Doctors say, and always say,  quit smoking and get more diet and
excercise.  Ok...great...heard it before...now what.  I think
I'l have a smoke and sit here and think about it for a couple
days.

Wife says..You've got to quit drinking....cool...fine...sounds
like a good idea,  but I'm a bit too sober to think about that
right now ... See ya in the morning.

God says...Love one another....I see....hmmmmm....that's fine...
but I sure hate people preaching at me all the time.

It doesn't seem to make sense without rules. A guideline, maybe
even an commandment, to make it stick.

Anyone who has ever been involved in 12 step program or
knows someone who has (which is, of course impossible because
they are all anonymous) know that although these programs
have rules, guidelines, and steps to follow....The biggest rule
of all is One Day at a Time. And it's darned good advice!

That's what those religious groups I mentioned about do
as well...they give you something to do TODAY....it's
a "do something" environment.

And that's something I've noticed about other world religions,
particularly some protestant Christian groups and some Buddhist
groups....

Many of these, but certainly not all,  give a general message
of "do good, be nice,  live in harmony"...but then leave you
stranded from Sunday to Sunday.

You go to church,  hear a nice message,  but all the days in
between you don't have anything specific to do.  No ritual
or rules to follow....suggestions maybe...but nothing concrete.

Now, I've mentioned alot of religions in here,  and don't think that
I am endorsing or condemning any of them.  This is not the
forum for that.

But what do you do every day to keep your spiritual and emotional
and mental self strong and healthy?

Do you have some "good ideas" in the back of your mind that
your will get to tomorrow,  or do you actually DO THINGS
every day?

Do you light a candle and meditate?  Everyday?
Do you kneel and pray? Everyday?
Do you fast on certain days?
Do you repeat mantra, or observe times of rest?
Do you set guidelines for the things that are or are not
in your living area? With your children?  On the TV?
Do you keep certain days holy?

These are just a few of the "week in week out" things that
some people do, but many of us have nothing like it.
 
One of the things I do is I write this letter.  It is my
"hands on" activity to share love with the world.

I try to do it, even when I don't want to.

I have had other rituals and things I did every day in the
past,  and they helped me alot.  I felt more sacred and
connected and whole.  They gave me something to DO each day
to remind me of my spiritual life, as well and my physical one.

I have been trying,  and am making a dedicated effort to
get those things back in my life.

Now you may say to me....Tim,  you're doing it.  You're telling
me to "do good, be nice,  live in harmony" but not giving me
anything concrete.

I am.

Here's what you are to do today.

Pick something sacred and meaningful to you.  An activity, a place,
a prayer, a ritual, and DEDICATE yourself to it TODAY.

All you have to do it set that things aside as HOLY and
do it today.

Tomorrow, I'd like you to wake up and do the same thing
again tomorrow.  Whatever ritual you picked....do it again..
the same way..the same time...the same place...and then the next day.

Even if it's something like bowing to your tablemates before
sitting for a meal.  Or standing silently with eyes pointing
upward for a few seconds before getting into a car.

Pick that one thing..and DO IT..today....

You need only worry about today...because tomorrow will come
and it will take care of itself.  Just ask yourself...

Did I do my holy thing today?

That is your task..."Did I do my holy thing today? Did I do
my sacred thing today?"

If the answer is YES,  you're on your way to a "hands on"
practice of love. And NOW...you have something to do.

And if some asks youcan say..."Oh, I'm just doing my thing!"

Have a happy day....and a holy and sacred one as well.

Peace to you!
Love In Thought! Love In Word! Love In Action!

Love To You Today!

 

"May we endeavor today to increase our understanding and appreciation of
what others have given and contributed to us. And develop constant,
mindful consideration of how our thoughts and actions will BENIFICIALLY
CONTRIBUTE to others"

The best to you today in discovering the answers to life's difficult
questions!

 

A Final Thought:

Love is always the right thing to do. Even if it isn't the easiest
thing to do.

May we have compassion for the struggles of others, wisdom to
acknowledge our own, and courage to address them both every day.

Respectfully,
Tim

This is a daily newsletter of LOVE WORKS DAILY:
A collective of individuals of different beliefs and
backgrounds, dedicated to a better world by living LOVE in thought,
word and action. Compassion. Wisdom. Courage.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Peace be with you.

(c)2007 T.Thomas Henry

LOVE WORKS DAILY 01/18/07 - LAUGHING AT THE FACE OF ALLAH

LOVE WORKS DAILY 01/18/07 - LAUGHING AT THE FACE OF ALLAH

Hello Friends! I hope today finds you happy and well
and filled with the infinity that is love and the
capacity to give and receive it freely today!

Join our mailing list:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/loveworksdaily/

Or read us on the web:
http://loveworks.ebloggy.com/
http://loveworksdaily.blogspot.com/

INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT:
(Great Thoughts By History's Inspired Thinking Men and Women)

The best of the people are the first to greet others.

-The Prophet Muhammad, as reported by Abu Umamah

TIM's BLOG
(Random Thoughts and Tim's Daily World):

Good Morning all!

As you have likely noticed, I have stopped doing the
IN THE NEWS section.  I had done it one time before and stopped
after a couple weeks,  because I frankly couldn't find anything
new or interesting to write about on most days.  Every day
the news was about hate and killing and violence and war,
and there is only so much to say.  I really had to dig deep
past the headlines to find something that did not involve
death to write about,  and it's also challenging to
write about the local Acorn Festival every week.

So...if a big story comes along and I really have something
to say on it, I will.  Otherwise,  everyone has lots of access
to the news these days, and I'll leave that to you.

Speaking of leaving it to you.  This being Thurday now,  and
a week since the last QOTW...and several days since I asked
whether people valued it, or wanted me to push an "interactive"
element to this group,  I have have gotten ONE email.  It was a
good email,  but I would have no idea whether this represents
the group.

So here's what I am thinking.

1.  You have not been receiving or reading LOVE WORKS this last
week.
2. You have tried to email, but your emails have not gotten
through to me...which is something to correct.
3.  You have been too busy this week to respond.
4.  You don't have time in general to bother.
5.  You don't care one way or another.

Now,  I'm not meaning to be grumpy,  but I am most concerned
about #2.  If #1 is true,  and the hundred or so people I think
I am writing to are not reading it...that's OK...

But if you have tried to respond, I am not getting it...this
is a real problem.

If this is the case....
an email (besides the others I gave) that you will get through to me at is
musicbrokers@wildblue.net
I get hundreds of emails daily at that address.
If that should fail
musicbrokers@yahoo.com

These are both work email,  but please write to them if you
have not gotten though to the others.

I have this little running fantasy of dozens of frustrated people
writing and not hearing back and thinking I am ignoring them.

If in fact, #3-#5 are the case...then my fantasy explodes...
but I do know the reality then.

This will be the last I speak of this..so not to worry...
If you are ignoring my call for feedback,  you will only have
to do so today.

Otherwise, I will be returning to my usual format of
writing my essays and posting them into the ethers.

I do know that many of you enjoy and get benefits from
these essays,  so I don't think what I am doing is in vain.
And when I've really pressed the matter in the past, I've gotten
a number of really flowery and apologetic (and very sincere) emails stating
how much LOVE WORKS means to them.

This is great, and I do appreciate it,  but it's not what I'm
asking for.  I write these for me, and most days that is
quite enough. 

But I do enjoy getting feedback on the topics themselves,  and
I do like to know sometimes that I am not sending them out
into the void of cyberspace to no eyes or ears.

In short,  I like getting LOVE WORKS messages too...

And after all...that is the mission of the group.

LOVE WORKS...it doesn't just sit there and let other people
work...it gets up and contributes to the making the world a
better place.

So......I have been on a bit of a rant this week,  and I
apologize.  This won't continue beyond today.  I will either
hear from a number of you,  or I won't,  or I will find out
why it is happening and try to correct the problem.

I do LOVE you all very much,  and am only trying to gauge the
direction that LOVE WORKS should take.

Not trying to make anyone feel guilty,  I just truly want to
know why I never hear from most of you for months at a time, if ever.
Just a question.

Being just a reader is cool too...glad that you are here...
So again,  don't think I am trying to pressure people to write
in.  I have just expected a somewhat larger response that
I get.  Joshua stated that it was his experience to...so
I maybe it is the norm.

(end of rant)

Today's LOVE WORKS was written in 2003.  It was written shortly
before we had gone to Iraq,  and I thought that by the time
I came around to repeating it,  I would be writing a prologue
to the effect that "now that the war is over" etc. ect.

Well, we haven't left Iraq, and if anything things are even
worse.  We did hang Saddam.  Didn't change anything.  We do have
a NEW PLAN out there to get out...I think....but it may
all be a political move to influence the next elections.  Hard
to tell.

The bottom line is.  Almost 4 years later...we are still
doing it.  Whatever "it" is supposed to be.

Tonya asked me today, if when we are talking about the many
names of GOD at our Church school thing...we should mention
names like ALLAH (which by the way refered to the exact same
historical GOD that the Christians and Jews believe in...)

I told her that we had to be very careful.  We're in a small
town,  and there are alot of people who might not send their
kids if we start talking about other religions to much.
Especially "evil" religions like Islam. (Sarcasm intended.)

Anyways...this is what I wrote in 2003...hope you enjoy...

Oh,  and write to me...(dang it, wasn't going to mention that again)

(Continued in Part II)

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Peace be with you.

From LOVE WORKS DAILY 03/06/03
(c)2007 T.Thomas Henry

<

LOVE WORKS DAILY 01/18/07 - LAUGHING AT THE FACE OF ALLAH

PART II

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
(Brand New and Classic Love Works Essays 2001-2007)

I decided to go out on a limb today!

Sometimes what I write is to shock you into thinking. Other times,
I have a specific point of view. Today is little of both...brace
yourself.

I choose the inspiration for the LOVE WORKS letters from a wide variety
of sources; secular and religious; western and eastern; widely known to
scarcely heard.

I look for a nugget of a idea within the vastness of thoughts and ideas
flying at us everyday.

But today for the first time since the inception of this letter,
I started with a quote from the Muslim tradition.

Like I said I decided to go crazy!

What possibly is there to gain from Islam?

We are Americans. Muslims are our enemies....right?

You know...the whole World Trade Center thing...the pending war in
Iraq...those middle easterners all hate Americans..we need to stick
together on this one. Be PATRIOTS!

Right?

It's that what we should be doing?

I was told that the Muslim faith instructs it's practitioners to
kill Americans on sight, if possible. Kill all Westerners, for that
matter, because we are all devils and laugh at the face of Allah. A
preacher from a CHURCH told me that...so it has to be right.

Right?

We should be tolorant of Muslims, but certainly not embrace them or
their radical beliefs.

Right?

"They're already teaching our children about that evil religion in our
schools, what's next, we all just hold hands and sing songs about
PEACE and LOVE like a bunch of F***ing hippies", another person said
aloud at my store the other day. "There are no innocents in Iraq,
except the Christians, and we'll get them out first", he continued.

So we (the good guys) need to go over there and just bomb the hell out
of everything, right?

Another person who was "there in the Gulf War" says..."This whole mess
is our own damn fault, if we'da (I do believe that WE'DA is a word)
just finished 'em off when we were there the first time, we'da not have
this problem now...we knowed 'bout the World Trade thing months before
it happened, and we'da just let it happen so the public would see just
how crazy those f***ers are...people just'a wouldn'ta believed it
otherwise."

This makes sense to me. A perfectly rational, balanced viewpoint. Based
on the facts.

It's all very clear.

And really quite simple.

Muslims, and anyone of Middle Eastern descent, are hate mongers,
fanatical and insane.

And we (Americans...the good guys) are not.

Right?

Right?

uhhh..I DON'T THINK SO.

As I've just demonstrated, I've found plenty of hate mongers and
fanatics everywhere I've been.
Every skin color. Every ethnic background. Every religion.
Every walk of life.

As a matter of fact, I've met plenty of "fanatical, extremist,
lunatics" just living in my neighborhood, and my hometown.

Now don't get me wrong!

We must CONFRONT HATE!

I agree with this, I really do.

But I don't think we confront it WITH HATE, as so many people
are choosing to do.

We confront HATE with LOVE and we defeat HATE with LOVE.

And until I change the name of this letter to HATE WORKS DAILY,
I'm sticking with that principle.

Like I said, many people will not agree with me.

So I'm going out on a limb here.....

.....LOVE WORKS.

Give it a chance.

It works...

It really does!

And anyone who would like to get together to sing songs about PEACE and
LOVE....the party is at my place!

Love In Thought! Love In Word! Love In Action!

Love To You Today!

 

"May we endeavor today to increase our understanding and appreciation of
what others have given and contributed to us. And develop constant,
mindful consideration of how our thoughts and actions will BENIFICIALLY
CONTRIBUTE to others"

The best to you today in discovering the answers to life's difficult
questions!

 

A Final Thought:

Love is always the right thing to do. Even if it isn't the easiest
thing to do.

May we have compassion for the struggles of others, wisdom to
acknowledge our own, and courage to address them both every day.

Respectfully,
Tim

This is a daily newsletter of LOVE WORKS DAILY:
A collective of individuals of different beliefs and
backgrounds, dedicated to a better world by living LOVE in thought,
word and action. Compassion. Wisdom. Courage.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Peace be with you.

From LOVE WORKS DAILY 03/06/03
(c)2007 T.Thomas Henry

LOVE WORKS DAILY 01/17/07 - Success In The Here and Now

LOVE WORKS DAILY 01/17/07 - Success In The Here and Now

Hello Friends! I hope today finds you happy and well
and filled with the infinity that is love and the
capacity to give and receive it freely today!

Join our mailing list:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/loveworksdaily/

Or read us on the web:
http://loveworks.ebloggy.com/
http://loveworksdaily.blogspot.com/

INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT:
(Great Thoughts By History's Inspired Thinking Men and Women)

The fool tries to control his mind.
How can he ever succeed?

Mastery always comes naturally
To the man who is wise
And who loves himself.

-Ashtavakra Gita 18:41

TIM's BLOG
(Random Thoughts and Tim's Daily World):

Good Morning.  For those who are not on the Yahoo list, we
have been having some discussion about the value to of
group participation and posts by people other than me.

I have received one response in favor of continuing a
Question of the Week type thing...but really not much nmore
than that.  If you want to write me without posting to the
group to express your thoughts on the matter, you can email
me at loveworksdaily@wildblue.net

While you are at it...why not email me and let me know if
you would like to receive this by email (if you read it on
the web)...or send me some
email addresses of friends, family, enemies, etc. that might
like or enjoy what we are doing here.  I will send them a
"gift" subscription in your name (or not if you prefer).

Oh, yeah...a "Love Works" weekly or monthly meeting
will be happeningn starting really soon.  Unfortunately,
for most of you, it will be in Southern Oregon.  But we seem
to have some interest in a round table discussion and lunch
at a local church!  Hoorah!

And also,  although I have never used it much for this
purpose (at least since closing the Help Yourself Center)
we will be activating our fundraising and "social" works effort
in the coming year.  Of course, you need not donate anything
to keep getting the newsletter,  but I'll keep you updated on
what we are doing,  hope to be doing,  and all....

Ok...enough with the company business.

Tonya got back safe and sound from the train station
at about 11:30 last night.  The roads were glare ice, so we
had to drive about 35 mph getting back.  I think we got to bed around
1:30.  So Tonya, myself and the kids are exhausted.

That said....

Here's a "guest author" LOVE WORKS from last year. 
I believe it's author is still on the list,  but not sure.
Either way, I enjoyed it and it helps me when I think about
my "success" or lack of it.  (note:  I have been perceiving the
lack of involvement in the group, and lack of new members
as a failure on my part to do more.  Instead,  I could look
at the hundred or so regular readers, and LOVE WORKS entering
it's 6th year as a big success.  Strange how the mind goes
the opposite direction...I SHOULD have 1000 readers...and
the group should be vigorous and alive with activity, ya know...)

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
(Brand New and Classic Love Works Essays 2001-2007)

Today's Love Works was submitted by reader and guest
author Homer.  Thanks!

Please note, however, that the views and opinions shared by our guest authors,
although generally consistant with LOVE WORKS philosophy, do
not SPECIFICALLY represent the views or opinions of Tim Henry
or LOVE WORKS DAILY. 

And now....Today's Guest LOVE WORKS....

SUCCESS by Homer

Following a period of my life where my ambition and hope
 was beat down by depression, I now realize that the only
limits I have are self-imposed.  I have evolved into a person
with an unbeatable spirit and an enthusiasm that will not be
 swayed.

Simply put, I seek success.  Success is different for everyone.
  Success to me is to love and to be loved.  I wish to show my
 compassion, yet not allow myself to be taken advantage of by
others.  I am not very materialistic, yet I would like to have
 my own home and adequate possessions to meet my basic needs.
 I want friends that I love and trust and who feel the same
toward me.  What I have described thus far is part of what
I consider success, but the most important component is to
constantly work to improve myself by trying to become a more
 enlightened individual.

 This leads to the two must urgent challenges I face today.
 I have wisdom, yet I don’t use it often when making plans or
decisions.  I tend to allow myself to get hung up on the little
stuff in life and focus on that, rather than taking a larger
perspective to try to understand the real situation that I need
to deal with so I can develop an approach that will help me deal
with the situation effectively.

I tend to hold myself back.  I don’t expect to succeed; I expect
 to struggle, so that is where I often find myself.  When I
realize what I am doing, I can then move on and solve the
problem.  But my lack of self confidence and wavering sense
of self-worth instilled from a childhood of being told that I
 am stupid, selfish and lazy, makes it harder for me to believe
 that I deserve to succeed.  I hold back to punish myself for
my flaws and for mistakes I have made in the past.  I am working
 on this problem and have found an approach that seems to work
 for me.  Don’t struggle with problems, just solve them.  When
 I let myself use wisdom, rather than just suffering needlessly
in struggle, my life improves, and bit-by-bit, it is.

Success is not a perfection that someday I hope to achieve. 
For me, success is allowing myself to enjoy what I have in life
 while I try to work toward becoming a better person.  Writing
this has helped me realize that my life is a success right
 now. 

  I may not be perfect, but I feel like a success. 

 

Love In Thought! Love In Word! Love In Action!

Love To You Today!

 

"May we endeavor today to increase our understanding and appreciation of
what others have given and contributed to us. And develop constant,
mindful consideration of how our thoughts and actions will BENIFICIALLY
CONTRIBUTE to others"

The best to you today in discovering the answers to life's difficult
questions!

 

A Final Thought:

Love is always the right thing to do. Even if it isn't the easiest
thing to do.

May we have compassion for the struggles of others, wisdom to
acknowledge our own, and courage to address them both every day.

Respectfully,
Tim

This is a daily newsletter of LOVE WORKS DAILY:
A collective of individuals of different beliefs and
backgrounds, dedicated to a better world by living LOVE in thought,
word and action. Compassion. Wisdom. Courage.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Peace be with you.

(c)2005 T.Thomas Henry

LOVE WORKS DAILY 01/16/07 - Danger In The Electronic Frontier

LOVE WORKS DAILY 01/16/07 - Danger In The Electronic Frontier

Hello Friends! I hope today finds you happy and welland filled with the infinity that is love and thecapacity to give and receive it freely today!

Join our mailing list:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/loveworksdaily/
Or read us on the web:
http://loveworks.ebloggy.com/
http://loveworksdaily.blogspot.com/

INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT:(Great Thoughts By History's Inspired Thinking Men and Women)

Even before accomplishing enlightenment a person knows that everything attests to the existence of God. But these virtuous feelings of innocence disappear as he begins to mingle with corrupt society, because worldly affairs hinder him from swimming in the vast ocean of insight.
-Al-Ghazzali, "Ihya Ulum Id-Din"

TIM's BLOG (Random Thoughts and Tim's Daily World):

Hope all are well today. Tonya returns tonight after 8 daysaway and we look are looking forward to that muchly!
I didn't write todays LOVE WORKS, which is rare. Even morerare, I don't know who wrote it. But it was done sowell that I am going to include it because I could not have doneit better myself.
The fact is, as exciting as the internet is...is hasbecome a very dangerous place as well.
Of course I find this to be a sad thing. People should benice, they should be kind..they should all be good.
But they are not.
With only fragments of information, I could pinpoint yourexact home address and a map to you house.
I just did several internet searches on myself including onlysmall bits of information and was able to locate our home address onthe net.
I detest guns! Detest them. But because this information isso available and I am in the public forum enough to makeit more widespead.....I have a guard dog AND a shotgunthat will greet unwanted visitors. (I wouldn't hesitate toprotect my family, I am trained with firearms...butit would cause me grief beyound imagination to discharge itat a person.)
Makes me sad just thinking about it.
But it's the way of the world now...
Of course, we're changing that...right?!
Love to you!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: (Brand New and Classic Love Works Essays 2001-2007)
Thanks to Lisa for sending me this....
by Anonymous
After tossing her books on the sofa, she decided to grab a snack and get on-line . She logged on under her screen name ByAngel213. She checked her Buddy List and saw GoTo123 w as on. She sent him an instantmessage:
ByAngel213:Hi. I'm glad you are on! I thought someone was following me home today. It was really weird!
GoTo123:LOL You watch too much TV. Why would someone be following you? Don't you live in a safe neighborhood?
ByAngel213:Of course I do. LOL I guess it was my imagination cuz' I didn't see anybody when I looked out.
GoTo123:Unless you gave your name out on-line. You haven't done that have you?
ByAngel213:Of course not. I'm not stupid you know.
GoTo123:Did you have a softball game after school today?
ByAngel213:Yes and we won!!
GoTo123:That's great! Who did you play?
ByAngel213:We played the Hornets. LOL. Their uniforms are so gross! They look like bees. LOL
GoTo123:What is your team called?
ByAngel213:We are the Canton Cats. We have tiger paws on our uniforms. They are really cool.
GoTo123: Did you pitch?ByAngel213:No I play second base. I got to go. My homework has to be done before my parents get home. I don't want them mad at me. Bye!
GoTo123:Catch you later. Bye
Meanwhile......GoTo123 went to the member menu and began to search for her profile. When it came up, he highlighted it and printed it out. He took out a pen and began to write down what he knew about Angel so far.
Her name: ShannonBirthday: Jan. 3, 1985Age: 13State where she lived: North Carolina
Hobbies: softball, chorus, skating and going to the mall. Besides this information, he knew she lived in Canton because she had just told him. He knew she stayed by herself until 6:30 p.m. every afternoon until her parents came home from work. He knew she played softball on Thursday afternoons on the school team, and the team was named the Canton Cats. Her favorite number7 was printed on her jersey. He kne w she was in the eighth grade at the Canton Junior High School . She had told him all this in the conversations they had on- line. He had enough information to find hernow.
Shannon didn't tell her parents about the incident on the way home from the ballpark that day. She didn't want them to make a scene and stop her from walking home from the softball games. Parents were always overreacting and hers were the worst. It made her wish she was not an only child. Maybe if she had brothers and sisters, her parentswouldn't be so overprotective.
By Thursday, Shannon had forgotten about the footsteps following her.
Her game was in full swing when suddenly she felt someone staring at her. It was then that the memory came back. She glanced up from her second base position to see a man watching her closely.
He was leaning against the fence behind first base and he smiled when she looked at him. He didn't look scary and she quickly dismissed the sudden fear she had felt.
After the game, he sat on a bleacher while she talked to the coach. She noticed his smile once again as she walked past him. He nodded and she smiled back. He noticed her name on the back of her shirt. He knew he had found her.
Quietly, he walked a safe distance behind her. It was only a few blocks to Shannon 's home, and once he saw where she lived he quickly returned to the park to get his car.
Now he had to wait. He decided to get a bite to eat until the time came to go to Shannon 's house. He drove to a fast food restaurant and sat there until time to make his move.
Shannon was in her room later that evening when she heard voices in the living room.
"Shannon, come here," her father called. He sound ed upset and she couldn't imagine why. She went into the room to see the man from the ballpark sitting on the sofa.
"Sit down," her father began, "this man has just told us a most interesting story about you."
Shannon sat back. How could he tell her parents anything? She had never seen him before today!
"Do you know who I am, Shannon ?" the man asked.
"No," Shannon answered.
"I am a police officer and your online friend, GoTo123."
Shannon was stunned. "That's impossible! GoTo is a kid my age! He's 14. And he lives in Michigan !"
The man smiled. "I know I told you all that, but it wasn't true. You see, Shannon , there are people on-line who pretend to be kids; I was one of them. But while others do it to injure kids and hurt them, I belong to a group of parents who do it to protect kids from predators. I came here to find you to teach you how dangerous it is to talk to people on-line. You told me enough about yourself to make it easy for me to find you. You named the school you went to, the name of your ball team and the position you played. The number and name on your jerseyjust made finding you a breeze."
Shannon was stunned. "You mean you don't live in Michigan ?"
He laughed. "No, I live in Raleigh . It made you feel safe to think I was so far away, didn't it?"
She nodded.
"I had a friend whose daughter was like you. Only she wasn't as lucky. The guy found her and murdered her while she was home alone. Kids are taught not to tell anyone when they are alone, yet they do it all the time on-line. The wrong people trick you into giving out information a little here and there on-line. Before you know it, you have told them enough for them to find you without even realizing you have done it. I hope you've learned a lesson from this and won't do it again. Tell others about this so they will be safe too?"
"It's a promise!"
That night Shannon and her Dad and Mom all knelt down together and thanked God for protecting Shannon from what could have been a tragicsituation.

Love In Thought! Love In Word! Love In Action!
Love To You Today!

"May we endeavor today to increase our understanding and appreciation of what others have given and contributed to us. And develop constant, mindful consideration of how our thoughts and actions will BENIFICIALLYCONTRIBUTE to others"

The best to you today in discovering the answers to life's difficult questions!

A Final Thought:
Love is always the right thing to do. Even if it isn't the easiest thing to do.
May we have compassion for the struggles of others, wisdom to acknowledge our own, and courage to address them both every day.
Respectfully,Tim

This is a daily newsletter of LOVE WORKS DAILY:A collective of individuals of different beliefs andbackgrounds, dedicated to a better world by living LOVE in thought,word and action. Compassion. Wisdom. Courage.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Peace be with you.

(c)2007 T.Thomas Henry