Inspired by Scholastica

I just came across some great ways to deal with the burdens of life. First, Just accept that some days, you're the pigeon and, some days, you're the statue. That's realism, for sure. You can't always be on the top and sometimes you deserve the cr     . Second, Always keep your words soft and sweet - just in case you have to eat them. Good reminder that bitter and angry words are hard to swallow. Third, Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. If you're always trying to do it perfectly, you'll never have any fun. Just let go and enjoy the music. Fourth, Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live . Don't get depressed about growing older. Hopefully, you are growing wiser and more tolerant too. Fifth, A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour. Sure detours are a nuisance and might make you late, but there's nothing you do about it. So take in the diversion and be glad for n

Most of us believe that it is good to be generous to a certain extent. But to be overly generous might mean we won't have enough for ourselves. Yet evidence shows that people who give without measure actually receive much more. It depends on if you have a "scarcity mentality" or an "abundance mentality."  Those who have a scarcity mentality believe everything is limited. They are afraid they will not have enough so they hold back from giving. Actually they end up getting the opposite of what they want in life. On the other hand, those who have an abundance mentality can't wait to give and make others happy. They thrive on being generous and in return, God blesses them with more so they can keep on giving. In the book of Proverbs, we read, " One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." What

  John the Baptist tells his hearers to "Prepare the way of the Lord," and do it quickly because you don't have much time. Certainly Jesus only spent three years in public ministry so he must have felt an urgency to spread his message of love and mercy. And in the early days of Christianity, people expected Jesus to return within their lifetime so they must have felt some pressure to be ready. Each Advent we remind ourselves that Jesus' coming is certain and his day is near. Yet most of us are very busy in these days before Christmas, shopping, decorating, sending cards, and making special holiday treats. That's not the preparation John is talking about. He called people to repentance, to a change of heart. We ought to be about preparing our hearts to receive him through silence, prayer, and awareness. Silence is hard to come by during Advent when we are bombarded by commercials and Christmas carols. Prayer is often squeezed in at the end of the day when w

I just read an article about DACA (deferred action for childhood arrivals) recipients and how much they contribute to our economy, our democracy, and our society. Many of these young people, who were brought to America by their parents and know no other country, are college students, entrepreneurs, health care professionals, and skilled workers. They appreciate the chance they were given to live in the United States and want to use their talents and gifts to give back. According to Jack Reardon, president of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, DACA recipients are working in nearly every sector of our economy from hospitality to technology, and their economic power is indisputable." Research shows that Dreamers earn almost $19.9 billion in annual income, and contribute more than $3 billion to federal and state taxes.  As baby boomers age and families are smaller Dreamers are a vital part of our future. Instead of deporting them, we need to ensure that hard-working im