May 8, 2020

Dear Friends,

I have been thinking of you and knowing such lovely things for you and your lives.

One of the things on my mind today has been the virtues. I am so glad that for the last four years we have been in relationship with them. Practicing the virtues is such a powerful way to move through life. I especially like the universality of them, that they are independent of religious or cultural contexts. As we work with and embody them, our characters become strong attendances of morality and ethics. This week we are working with the virtue of endurance.

To endure is to last. It is the ability to continue in the face of hardship or obstacles. Enduring principles are those that stand the test of time. Enduring relationships are those that continue for a lifetime. Enduring strengths are those that can be counted on no matter what. Someone who is enduring bears circumstances and faces challenging situations without yielding.

What a tremendous quality to have and express. In many ways during this time of quarantine and the adoption of precautions, we are called upon to endure. It is a time when we must reach towards other virtues, as well, such as discipline, faith, strength and kindness. Often, we don’t know just how principled we are until a situation of hardship or uncertainty comes up to challenge us.

In what ways have you had to endure in these past weeks? What helps you to be enduring? What are the personal benefits of enduring? What do you do to increase your endurance?

In order to endure in anything, it is necessary that we adopt practices that support our physical and spiritual strength. Daily habits of prayer, meditation and reflection is essential for spiritual clarity and well-being. Daily habits of health provide physical soundness and balance. Both are needed for robust endurance

Earlier today while looking through papers searching for a user ID and password for one of my services, I came across this list of Tips for a Better Life. I have had it for a long time and want to share it with you now. I already do many of them, but made a personal resolve to apply all of them to my daily activities as best I can. I thought you might find them useful, too.

Tips for a Better Life

1. Take a 10 – 30 minute walk every day.

2. Sit in silence at least 10 minutes a day.

3. Sleep for 7 hours a night.

4. Live with the 3 Es: energy, enthusiasm, and empathy.

5. Play more games.

6. Read more books than you did last year.

7. Drink plenty of water.

8. Eat more food that grows on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

9. Eat breakfast lie a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

10. Make time for prayer and meditation each day.

11. Dream more while awake.

12. Smile and laugh more.

13. Perform 1 act of kindness each day.

14. Don’t waste your precious time with gossip.

15. Let go of what you can’t control.

16. Invest your attention in the present moment.

17. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.

18. Life is too short to spend time hating anyone.

19. Don’t take yourself so seriously.

20. Every challenge has a lesson to learn.

21. When you can’t win an argument, agree to disagree.

22. Don’t com[are yourself others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

23. Make peace with your past o it won’t spoil the present.

24. Stay in touch with friends.

25. Forgive everyone for everything.

26. What people think of you in none of your business.

27. However bad a situation, it will change.

28. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

29. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

30. The best is yet to come.

31. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

32. Don’t overdo. Honor your limits.

33. Do the right thing.

34. Call your family often.

35. Each day give something good to others.

Please join me this Sunday at 10 AM for a Special Mother’s Day service via Zoom. Our home page has all the details on how to link in, as well as several easy ways to continue you prosperity tithing practice. It’s promising to be a beautiful weekend and I am looking forward to having you be a part of mine.

Love and Blessings,

Rev. Patty