Baha'i Prayer for Peace..

Baha'i Prayer for Peace

Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity.

Be fair in judgment, and guarded in thy speech,

Be a lamp unto those who walk in darkness, and a home to the stranger.

Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring

Be a breath of life to the body of humankind,

a dew to the soil of the human heart,

and a fruit upon the tree of humility.

First day back to work went better than expected...getting there. Granted, it was a bit slow getting into the city...two trains and a bus, but I left early and beat most of the crowds. By the end of the day I heard my regular train was running through to Brooklyn.  Last stop was the stop before mine.  Then, I figured I would catch the bus.  I don't know why it never occurred to me that that was everyone's plan until we were nearing the last stop. Then I looked about and realized that all of these people in my car and all the other cars would be trying to cram on the same, slow moving bus. I was right.  So many people waiting, too many people. So, I hiked it home...six long blocks, half of it uphill. I was in pain, yes, but it was better than sitting in that cold.  Oh, and did I tell you that I beat the bus home?  

I have to tell you this.  People are just plain thoughtless.  I boarded the train this morning, and it was fairly crowded.  A man, his wife, and their teenage son were seated in the handicapped section.  He looked at me, then the cane, and motioned for me.  I took a step towards him, and guess what this moron said, "I just wanted to tell you that we're not getting off yet, but when we do, I am going to make sure you get a seat."  I would have thought he was being cruel, but the man actually felt that he was showing respect. Well, I couldn't hold it in.  "You are three healthy people, sitting in the seats reserved for people like me, and you have the nerve to tell me that when you get up I can have your seat?  Are you kidding me?"

Sometimes I worry, though, about opening my mouth.  Here in the city you never know how the other person will react.  Needless to say, the gentleman seated behind me who, finally realizing that I was on a cane said, "Ma'am, I'm sorry.  I didn't see the cane.  Here, you can have my seat," and he even reached out to help me.  The best and the worst of the city.

It was great to be back at work...hugging co-workers, clients.  Clients not even scheduled for the day showed up to make sure I was all right. I was tired because I'd not slept the night before.  (I think it was psychological, but I fell asleep at 4 and woke at 5) But, all in all the day went well.  I hadn't realized how much I missed civilization.  

They are warning now of another storm...heavy rain with winds 50-60 mph with a 2 to 4 foot storm surge.  Another nor'easter. Can we really handle another one so soon? At the present time, it is uncertain how damaging its impact will be, but we do know that with beaches already eroded, the dunes down, and new inlets created, there is bound to be some impact. Our governor warned the people that if ordered to evacuate, they'd better take the orders seriously.

I did a lot of reading on my time off.  One of the books I read on my Kindle was one that I had for awhile, but had not read..."The Path of a Christian Witch" by Adelina St. Clair.  The author who had been raised as a Catholic spent years agonizing over the feeling that there was something missing in her life and shows how she melded the paths of Christianity and Paganism to create her own spiritual path.  I was hooked from page one, barely able to put it down.  In fact, at some points I found myself eating with one hand and holding my Kindle in the other.  

It's fascinating how she has been able to bridge the Christian holidays with those of the Pagan.  I, too, celebrate both. For example, I light candles to symbolize 'light' in times of darkness on Yule and open gifts with hubby and children on Christmas. I also loved her choice of Mary Magdalene as her goddess and found that I wanted to learn more about this mysterious goddess because I, too, felt drawn to her as I read the passages in the book.  Perhaps I have finally found my goddess.

"Christian Witchcraft is a practice of daily manifestations.  We can take our spirituality into our homes and shape it to celebrate the greatest and the simplest of our realities."

Adelina St. Clair