Top five regrets of the dying - guardian.co.uk,

Top five regrets of the dying

A nurse has recorded the most common regrets of the dying, and among the top ones is 'I wish I hadn't worked so hard'. What would your biggest regret be if this was your last day of life?  

• Susie Steiner
• guardian.co.uk
• Wednesday 1 February 2012 06.49 EST
•  
          

A palliative nurse has recorded the top five regrets of the dying. Photograph: Montgomery Martin/Alamy

 

There was no mention of more sex or bungee jumps. A palliative nurse who has counselled the dying in their last days has revealed the most common regrets we have at the end of our lives. And among the top, from men in particular, is 'I wish I hadn't worked so hard'.

Bronnie Ware is an Australian nurse who spent several years working in palliative care, caring for patients in the last 12 weeks of their lives. She recorded their dying epiphanies in a blog called Inspiration and Chai, which gathered so much attention that she put her observations into a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying.

Ware writes of the phenomenal clarity of vision that people gain at the end of their lives, and how we might learn from their wisdom. "When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently," she says, "common themes surfaced again and again."

Here are the top five regrets of the dying, as witnessed by Ware:

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
"This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it."

2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard.
"This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence."

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.
"Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result."

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
"Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying."

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
"This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again."

What's your greatest regret so far, and what will you set out to achieve or change before you die?

Is Religion Good for Your Health?

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2013/03/25/is-religion-good-for-your-health/

 

Is Religion Good for Your Health?

 

 

By Richard Besser
@DrRichardBesser
Find on FacebookFollow on Twitter

Mar 25, 2013 6:00am

 

Faith and medicine frequently intersect. My patients and I often talk about spirituality when we discuss medical issues. For many people, life-and-death decisions are grounded in a belief that a higher being will guide the outcome as much, or more than, the physicians and treatments involved. In addition, a support system based on shared faith can be extremely helpful in the healing process. Ministries frequently offer assistance programs and have relationships with social workers to counsel and provide services for those in need.

Not long ago, while reading the newspaper, I began thinking about the relationship of health and religion in an entirely new way, one that involves using religious tenets to promote a healthful lifestyle every day, not just in times of crisis. I saw an obituary for Lester Breslow, a true pioneer in public health. It was fitting that a man who dedicated his life to understanding what drives longevity lived to the ripe old age of ninety-seven. There are many important lessons to be learned from his extensive body of research. Breslow, a public health leader for over seventy years, was instrumental in first connecting smoking to lung diseases, particularly cancer. But that's not all. He demonstrated an association between longevity and health quality through a set of seven behaviors (known as the Alameda 7, for the California county in which they were identified): Not smoking; sleeping seven to eight hours per night; eating regular meals; maintaining a moderate weight; eating breakfast; drinking in moderation; and exercising at least moderately.

What really caught my eye was that Dr. Breslow was still at work well into his nineties. In 2010, Breslow, then ninety-five, was a coauthor of a twenty-five-year study of a group of California Mormons. This study, written with Professor James E. Enstrom of the University of California, Los Angeles, showed that the life expectancy of Mormon men was almost ten years longer than that of the general population of white American males. Female Mormons lived between five and six years longer than their general population counterparts. The longevity effect was most pronounced for those who never smoked, went to church weekly, had at least twelve years of education, and were married. Additional benefits were seen in those who were not overweight, got plenty of sleep, and exercised. The authors attributed the added years to the Mormons' healthy doctrines: Eating a well-balanced diet and eschewing tobacco, alcohol, coffee, tea, and illegal drugs. They found similar benefits among Americans of any religion who practiced the same healthy behaviors.

There has long been a correlation between being a churchgoer and longevity, but it has been difficult to tease out the basis of that relationship. The link to better health was partially attributed to self-selection. Religious people were the type of people who would practice behaviors favorable to more healthful living and thus live longer. Studies found that churchgoers were less likely to engage in high-risk health behaviors such as smoking and excessive drinking. After all, getting up bright and early for church Sunday mornings does hamper Saturday night binging. Being able to travel to church might also be a marker for mobility and healthfulness, rather than its cause.

There are also many beneficial spiritual aspects to consider. The meditative nature of religious services can lower stress levels. Many services preach love, forgiveness, hope, and optimism, which foster a positive outlook on life that can translate into good emotional health. Many sermons address the importance of giving thanks, and we know that gratitude can be very important for mental health. In addition to religious leaders providing counseling, some religions incorporate confession, which can help unburden congregants from emotional distress. These are all things that might be good for your health.

Now, I'm not a religious person and I've yet to see any convincing studies that compare the belief systems of various religions and their impact on health. However, I know from experience that for some people the belief in a higher power is incredibly important in helping them cope with a serious illness. It is what gets them through tough times. For others, it is the sense of community, the group aspect of organized religion that has a big impact on their health. Alternatively, I see atheists who get great support through other means, including their understanding of the natural workings of the world. And clearly you don't need to be religious to practice the healthful principles laid out by many of the world's religions. Those should apply to everyone.

Dr. B's Bottom Line:

Practicing the health tenets espoused by many religions are associated with a longer life. And you know what? You don't need to be religious or believe in God to follow them!

Keeping the Faith

Even if you aren't religious, it's worth embracing some philosophies espoused by many faith-based organizations that are good for your health and the health of others:

• Find a loving relationship and stick with it.
• Support those around you in their times of need.
• Give thanks for what you have. There are many benefits of being grateful. It has been shown to strengthen social bonds and makes people more likely to want to help us again. There is also promising evidence linking practicing gratitude to better sleep, fewer symptoms of illness, and less stress.
• Stay in school. Education is good for your health.
• Treat your body like a temple. Eat right, get regular exercise, get a good night's sleep, don't smoke, and if you drink, do so in moderation.

Excerpted from Dr. Besser's new book, "Tell Me the Truth, Doctor," which hits stores April 23. Pre-order the book at Barnes & Noble, Amazon or your local independent bookseller.

 

 

Seven Steps to Achieving Your Dream!

From: psychotherapy_india

Seven Steps to Achieving Your Dream!

Can achievement be broken down into steps? Well, it isn't always that clean
and easy, but I do know that those who achieve great things usually go
through much of the same process, with many of the items listed below as
part of that process. So if you have been struggling with achievement, look
through the following and internalize the thoughts presented. Then begin to
apply them. You will be on the road to achieving your dream!

1. Dream it - Everything begins in the heart and mind. Every great
achievement began in the mind of one person. They dared to dream, to believe
that it was possible. Take some time to allow yourself to ask "What if?"
Think big. Don't let negative thinking discourage you. You want to be a
"dreamer." Dream of the possibilities for yourself, your family, and for
others. If you had a dream that you let grow cold, re-ignite the dream! Fan
the flames. Life is to short to let it go.

2. Believe it - Yes, your dream needs to be big. It needs to be something
that is seemingly beyond your capabilities. But it also must be believable.
You must be able to say that if certain things take place, if others help,
if you work hard enough, though it is a big dream, it can still be done.
Good example: A person with no college education can dream that he will
build a 50 million-dollar a year company. That is big, but believable. Bad
example: That a 90 year-old woman with arthritis will someday run a marathon
in under 3 hours. It is big alright, but also impossible. She should instead
focus on building a 50 million-dollar a year business! And she better get a
move on!

3. See it - The great achievers have a habit. They "see" things. They
picture themselves walking around their CEO office in their new 25
million-dollar corporate headquarters, even while they are sitting on a
folding chair in their garage "headquarters." Great free-throw shooters in
the NBA picture the ball going through the basket. PGA golfers picture the
ball going straight down the fairway. World-class speakers picture
themselves speaking with energy and emotion. All of this grooms the mind to
control the body to carry out the dream.

4. Tell it - One reason many dreams never go anywhere is because the dreamer
keeps it all to himself. It is a quiet dream that only lives inside of his
mind. The one who wants to achieve their dream must tell that dream to many
people. One reason: As we continually say it, we begin to believe it more
and more. If we are talking about it then it must be possible. Another
reason: It holds us accountable. When we have told others, it spurs us on to
actually do it so we don't look foolish.

5. Plan it - Every dream must take the form of a plan. The old saying that
you "get what you plan for" is so true. Your dream won't just happen. You
need to sit down, on a regular basis, and plan out your strategy for
achieving the dream. Think through all of the details. Break the whole plan
down into small, workable parts. Then set a time frame for accomplishing
each task on your "dream plan."

6. Work it - wouldn't life be grand if we could quit before this one!
Unfortunately the successful are usually the hardest workers. While the rest
of the world is sitting on their couch watching re-runs of Gilligan's
Island, achievers are working on their goal - achieving their dream. I have
an equation that I work with: Your short-term tasks, multiplied by time,
equal your long-term accomplishments. If you work on it each day, eventually
you will achieve your dream. War and Peace was written, in longhand, page by
page.

7. Enjoy it - When you have reached your goal and you are living your dream,
be sure to enjoy it. In fact, enjoy the trip too. Give yourself some rewards
along the way. Give yourself a huge reward when you get there. Help others
enjoy it. Be gracious and generous. Use your dream to better others. Then go
back to number 1. And dream a little bigger this time!

Why be Spiritual? Top Five Benefits of Spirituality

Why be Spiritual? Top Five Benefits of Spirituality

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) February 26, 2013

Spiritual people experience a large amount of gratitude, focus on
compassionate emotions, lead an overall flourishing life, are
self-actualizing, and savor experiences.

Researchers at BeyondthePurchase.org wanted to determine the personal and
societal benefits of spirituality - a search for something sacred. They
determined the positive personality traits of spiritual individuals by
having participants complete over 30 surveys. Here are the top five positive
characteristics of spiritual people:

>1. Spiritual people are gracious. Psychology has demonstrated that
expressing gratitude is associated with many positive emotions such as
optimism, being generous with time and resources, and overall vitality.
Spirituality encourages people to be positive, which may be expressed in
many of these life practices.

>2. Spiritual people are compassionate. Experiencing compassion toward
others is one the strongest correlates with living a spiritual life. A
variety of positive or pro-social emotions have strong links with
spiritualism, including allowing one to feel good about the little things in
life and look at the world through empathetic eyes.

>3. Spiritual people flourish. Spirituality is linked to many important
aspects of human functioning--spiritual people have positive relationships,
high self-esteem, are optimistic, and experience meaning and purpose in
life.

>4. Spiritual people self-actualize. Spiritual individuals strive toward a
better life and consider personal growth and fulfillment as a central goal.
Spirituality can be considered to be a path toward self-actualization,
because it requires people to focus on their internal values and work on
becoming a better individual.

>5. Spiritual people take time to savor life experiences. Individuals who
value spirituality take the time to reflect on their daily activities and
ultimately build lasting memories of their experiences. Because spiritual
people are more conscious of small, daily activities, they experience
positive emotions associated with the smaller pleasures in life.

For the original version on PRWeb visit:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebwhy_be_spiritual/how_to_be_spiritual/prwe
b10464143.htm

The beginning of Great Lent and my own fallen state

Sent on behalf of Susan Eapen

Dear friends,

I always look forward to the Great Lent because within me there is a child
looking for the felt presence of God. I like pictures of the Guardian Angel
and the Holy Family. I want to feel loved and cherished and guarded by the
Ultimate and feel His ever present care. I want to be special to Him even
while realizing that each one of us is special to Him.

It is all very well to say that the Triune God dwells in you. We know that
it is correct in the same way as we know that an apple falls to the ground
due to gravity; but that knowledge does not overcome our busy involvement
with everyday life and in this business, we often forget that we are the
temples of God. Gradually, as in the case of Jerusalem Temple and as so very
often seen in our own Church, we compromise and justify and rationalize and
allow buyers and sellers and commerce within its Holy walls and in the
process, we evict the spiritually needy/ outsider who might have been
looking at us for a sign of the indwelling of God. The Lent is the time when
Jesus comes in and overturns the tables and casts out the traders.

Whenever I join in social chit-chat, I find that often the conversation
moves to someone absent. Somebody comes up with an unkind remark about the
absent person and even when I feel uncomfortable about it, or consider it
unjust, I find myself either openly condoning the gossip monger or
maintaining a cowardly silence. But during Lent, the daily prayers from the
prayer book which is repeated morning, noon, evening and night makes me wake
up to my responsibility before God. I remember the prayer on Monday Morning-
Brother loving brother is the fasting chosen by me. Tuesday Night we pray
`The fast / Lent which adorns our spirit with spiritual wings is this: Be
wise, pure, and loving (paripaakatha, nirmalatha, sneham). Restrain your
mouth from injustice and your heart from deceit. Love your brothers and
respect your teachers.' I realize that without this, my observance does not
reach the Holy God and my offerings are like those of Cain. They are impure
and like grass which is burnt up by the fire of his Holiness even before it
reaches Him, leaving nothing.

Each prayer is a wake up call. And fifty days of prayer coupled with
abstinence, will surely build me up in self control and spiritual strength.

I am reminded through these prayers that all this work and the strength that
I gain would stand me in good stead and may even save my life. It would help
me become more pleasing to God and man as I would become a better and more
honest person. It would cast out much of my negative characteristics and
evil which now dominate my inner space. At least it makes me ashamed of
myself when I join gossip even passively. I become aware of my poverty and
ashamed of my apparel soiled by sin and deceit and long for the garment of
light that God had initially adorned man with. It sounds so magnificent and
perhaps it would make the rather plain and old susan beautiful and lovable.

I become impatient with my old mother's seemingly unreasonable demands and
try to avoid her constant complaining. I forget her age, loneliness and
illness and am wrapped up in my problems. I fear whether I would ever have
the strength for the inner unseen warfare and learn to be truly loving and
charitable. No gifts to poor homes can cover up for the unkindness to those
closest to you- helpers,housemaids, children, parents, friends, neighbours.

I am greedy and attracted by the display of diamonds and silks and the smell
of wonderful confectionery even as I realize that all these are bad for
me-what with Bunti Chors and Diabetes and the need of others for sustenance
before me.

I am often tempted to give the prayers and church attendance a miss. But
once there, I feel a great sense of peace and realize that I would have
passed by the blessings of Lent through my casual approach.

Jesus said:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

God grant us poverty of spirit and a pure heart.

Susan Eapen
Thiruvananthapuram
India

The Psychology Behind Superhero Origin Stories

How does following the adventures of Spider-Man and Batman inspire us to cope with adversity?

By Robin Rosenberg

Smithsonian magazine, February 2013

“Why is every superhero movie an origin story?” complained Entertainment Weekly film critic Adam Markovitz after seeing a trailer for this summer’s Man of Steel—yet another version of the 75-year-old Superman saga. Perhaps we love origin stories, Markovitz suggested, because they “show the exact moment when a normal guy goes from being Just Like Us to being somehow better, faster, stronger.”

I’m inclined to disagree. As a clinical psychologist who has written books about the psychology of superheroes, I think origin stories show us not how to become super but how to be heroes, choosing altruism over the pursuit of wealth and power. I’ve learned this through hundreds of conversations at comic book conventions, where fans have been remarkably candid about their lives and the inspiration they draw from superhero stories.

In one form or another the superhero origin story has been around for millennia: A hero battles “supernatural” forces and returns home “from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man,” as the mythologist Joseph Campbell wrote.

In my surveys of the genre, I’ve found that superheroes undergo three types of life-altering experiences that we can relate to.

The first is trauma, which lies at the heart of Batman’s origin story, in which Bruce Wayne dedicates himself to fighting crime after seeing his parents murdered. In real life, many people experience “stress-induced growth” after a trauma and resolve to help others, even becoming social activists.

The second life-altering force is destiny. Consider Buffy the Vampire Slayer, about a normal teenager who discovers she’s the “Chosen One”—endowed with supernatural powers to fight demons. Buffy is reluctant to accept her destiny, yet she throws herself into her new job. Many of us identify with Buffy’s challenge (minus the vampires) of assuming a great responsibility that compels her to grow up sooner than she wants to.

Lastly, there’s sheer chance, which transformed a young Spider-Man, who was using his power for selfish purposes until his beloved uncle was murdered by a street thug. Spider-Man’s heroism is an example of how random adverse events cause many of us to take stock of our lives and choose a different path.

At their best, superhero origin stories inspire us and provide models of coping with adversity, finding meaning in loss and trauma, discovering our strengths and using them for good purpose. (Wearing a cape or tights is optional.)

Comic book writers could have chosen not to endow their characters with origin stories. (In fact, Batman’s back story wasn’t published until the comic’s seventh installment.) But those writers were keen observers of human nature. And they were able to translate those observations into captivating stories reflecting aspects of psychology that were confirmed by researchers decades later. In doing so, they tap into our capacity for empathy, one of the greatest powers of all.

Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/The-Psychology-Behind-Superhero-Origin-Stories-187938991.html#ixzz2JLJRmmCX
Follow us: @SmithsonianMag on Twitter

Spiritual, but not religious? A dangerous mix

Spiritual, but not religious? A dangerous mix

The prevalence of mental disorders among those who 'do God' alone is an indictment of churches' failure to meet their needs

Mark Vernon
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 9 January 2013 05.00 EST

'Individuals are not just not coming to church, some are becoming mentally ill as a result of religious failure.' Photograph: Don Hammond/Design Pics Inc

People who are "spiritual but not religious" are more likely to suffer poor mental health, according to a study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry. Michael King of University College London and his colleagues examined 7,400 interviews with folk in Britain, of whom 35% had a religious understanding of life, 19% a spiritual one and 46% neither a religious nor spiritual outlook. The analysis led to one clear conclusion. "People who have a spiritual understanding of life in the absence of a religious framework are vulnerable to mental disorder [dependence on drugs, abnormal eating attitudes, anxiety, phobias and neuroses]." The work supports evidence from other studies too.
All the usual weaknesses associated with asking individuals about religion are at play here, as the authors acknowledge. Nonetheless, the study prompts a number of speculations.

The spiritual itch is a deep one in the human psyche, for those who feel it. To scratch without the support of others might lead to an inner obsession that spirals out of control. It is possible, too, that personal crises drive people to seek spiritual solace that of itself does not address the underlying psychological distress. Then again, the resources of a healthy spiritual tradition, not pursued in isolation, should provide or point to the means of addressing psychological problems. The ground is then gradually cleared for genuine spiritual growth.

This raises another question, though. Do religious organisations in the UK today take enough notice of the insights of psychology and, conversely, do schools of therapy treat spirituality seriously? As the Cambridge psychologist and priest Fraser Watts explored in a recent talk, American therapists, for example, seem to be far happier talking about their clients' spiritual concerns than their British counterparts.

This must highlight broader cultural differences. In the US, religion tends to carry associations of freedom. I remember an American priest once saying to me, when I expressed amazement at the prevalence of religiosity in the US, that Americans came from Europe fleeing religious persecution. The two words "religion" and "freedom" naturally go together in the American psyche.

In Britain, though, it appears that many individuals view religion as an impingement upon their spiritual searching. Christianity, say, is felt to constrain life – perhaps because of the negative attitudes it projects about gay people and women; or because it presents belief as more important than growth; or because it looks more interested in sin than enlightenment. If that is so, the new research is a striking indictment of the failure of British churches to meet spiritual needs: individuals are not just not coming to church, some are becoming mentally ill as a result of religious failure.

Other results from the research are striking too, though similarly not determinative. People with no religious or spiritual understanding were significantly younger and more often white British, but were less likely to have qualifications beyond secondary school, perhaps challenging research purporting to show that atheists are more intelligent.

Another finding of this work was that those who were neither religious nor spiritual had just as good mental health as those the religious. This contradicts a notion widely held in positive psychology that religion is good for happiness (though that positive correlation typically derives from North American evidence.)

Finally, the research challenges the stance of those who are spiritual but not religious. It might be called the individualism delusion, the conviction that I can "do God" on my own. And yet, as the psychotherapist Donald Winnicott argued, human beings need to work through traditions to resource their personal creativity. Only in the lives of others can we make something rich of our own life. To be spiritual but not religious might be said to be like embarking on an extreme sport while refusing the support of safety procedures and the wisdom of experts who have made the jump before. Spirituality is like love: more risky than you can countenance when you're falling for it.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2013/jan/09/spiritual-but-not-religious-dangerous-mix

How to Leave a Legacy of Love

 

Give Love Away as Your Legacy of 2012-2013 On January 19, 2012 we posted a reflection on our blog site in which we encouraged readers to grow in love as their legacy of 2012. Can you list some specific, concrete ways in which you have chosen love over indifference? Love over annoyance? We ask because there is less than a week left in 2012. If you have not yet deliberately left love (or enough love) in the world this year, there still is time. Go to our latest website blog entry, Your Unfolding Love Story Continued, to read quick tips on how you can get started or grow your legacy of love for 2012. And consider a New Year's resolution to leave a legacy of love in 2013.                                                               Forgiveness Story Triggers Flood of Gift-Giving     Free groceries and Christmas gifts are piling up for a Nova Scotia, man who forgave the thief who ran off with his turkey dinner and presents. Frank (Mike) Foley went shopping last Wednesday but a thief broke into his car and stole the groceries and gifts he had just bought. Instead of calling the police, Foley posted a message on his Facebook page forgiving the intruder. Foley says he has not heard from the thief, but he has received more than 1,000 emails, phone calls and visits from generous people bearing groceries and gift cards. He keeps telling them it's not necessary. "They keep saying, 'You know what, we want to do this for you,'" Foley said, "and it's so overwhelming."  Read the full account of this heartwarming story and more than 100 other true stories of true forgiveness in the Forgiveness News section of our website. And remember that it can be Christmas year-round when you keep giving the gift of forgiveness. internationalforgiveness.com

International Forgiveness Institute | 1127 University Avenue, Suite 105 | Madison | WI | 53715

Thank You, O Lord! - Fr. Alexander Schmemann

November 21, 2011

Thank You, O Lord!
Final words

Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann celebrated the divine liturgy for the
last time on Thanksgiving Day. This was particularly appropriate since
Father Alexander had devoted his whole life to teaching, writing and
preaching about the Eucharist; for the word Eucharist in Greek means
thanksgiving. At the conclusion of the liturgy, Father Alexander took from
his pocket a short written sermon, in the form of a prayer, which he
proceeded to read. This was a strange occurrence since Father never wrote
his liturgical homilies, but delivered them extemporaneously. These were his
words, which proved to be the last ever spoken by him from the ambo in
Church. http://oca.org/reflections/fr.-alexander-schmemann/thank-you-o-lord


Thank You, O Lord!


Everyone capable of thanksgiving is capable of salvation and eternal joy.

Thank You, O Lord, for having accepted this Eucharist, which we offered to
the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and which filled our hearts
with the joy, peace and righteousness of the Holy Spirit.

Thank You, O Lord, for having revealed Yourself unto us and given us the
foretaste of Your Kingdom.

Thank You, O Lord, for having united us to one another in serving You and
Your Holy Church.

Thank You, O Lord, for having helped us to overcome all difficulties,
tensions, passions, temptations and restored peace, mutual love and joy in
sharing the communion of the Holy Spirit.

Thank You, O Lord, for the sufferings You bestowed upon us, for they are
purifying us from selfishness and reminding us of the "one thing needed;"
Your eternal Kingdom.

Thank You, O Lord, for having given us this country where we are free to
Worship You.

Thank You, O Lord, for this school, where the name of God is proclaimed.

Thank You, O Lord, for our families: husbands, wives and, especially,
children who teach us how to celebrate Your holy Name in joy, movement and
holy noise.

Thank You, O Lord, for everyone and everything.

Great are You, O Lord, and marvelous are Your deeds, and no word is
sufficient to celebrate Your miracles.

Lord, it is good to be here! Amen.

a poem: Every land is the holy land.

Every Land

by Ursula Le Guin

 

     The holy land is everywhere. —Black Elk

 

Watch where the branches of the willows bend

See where the waters of the rivers tend

Graves in the rock, cradles in the sand

Every land is the holy land.

 

Here was the battle to the bitter end

Here's where the enemy killed the friend

Blood on the rock, tears on the sand

Every land is the holy land.

 

Willow by the water bending in the wind

Bent till it's broken and it cannot stand

Listen to the word the messengers send

Life from the living rock, death in the sand

Every land is the holy land.

 

-- from Finding My Elegy (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012)

It's the THE DOOR!

(Thank you to arshi for contributing to this.)

Ever walk into a room with some purpose in mind, only to completely forget
what that purpose was?

Turns out, doors themselves are to blame for these strange memory lapses.
Psychologists at the University of Notre Dame have discovered that passing
through a doorway triggers what's known as an event boundary in the mind,
separating one set of thoughts and memories from the next. Your brain files
away the thoughts you had in the previous room and prepares a blank slate
for the new locale.

Thank goodness for studies like this. It's not our age, it's that door!

Now, consider every doorway an opportunity to start fresh, leave one thing
and start another.

Making a House for God in Our Hearts

What is the purpose of prayer? To make a link between prayer and mind,
between mind and heart, between the power that thinks and the power that
loves. So the mind that descends its awareness into the heart is not an
activity of the human being, it is a work of God. What we are doing is that
we pray to God for the unity of our own being, the whole being.

When we pray, we are making a house for him (God) in our heart, and when God
enters he brings sublime peace with him. Once united to God, we are never
alone, and we need never fear anything again. God becomes our protector, the
foundation for our whole life.

In the Gospel we say that God is our Father. This is a God who loves us, a
God who is himself love. When God himself settles into our being, he makes a
house for himself in our heart. He's hugging us.


Archimandrite Teofil of Brancoveanu Monastery (Romanian Orthodox Church)
Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer by Norris J. Chumley
2011 Harper Collins Publishers
www.jesusprayermovie.com

New Study: Benefits of Spirituality Affirmed

New Study: Benefits of Spirituality Affirmed

By Katrina Gay, NAMI Director of Communications
http://www.nami.org/MSTemplate.cfm?Section=E-mail_Network&Site=FaithNet_NAMI&template=/contentmanagement/contentdisplay.cfm&ContentID=145197

A recent University of Missouri (MU) study highlighting the positive role of spirituality in recovery from physical and mental health conditions reaffirms what previous NAMI surveys have revealed. In spite of the tremendous hardship of the personal experience of a health crisis, including a mental health condition, the resilience of the human spirit emerges as one of hope, faith and triumph for many.

When NAMI asked individuals living with schizophrenia and depression, in two separate surveys, what components are most important in their mental illness recovery, survey respondents of both NAMI’s Schizophrenia: Public Attitudes, Personal Needs in 2008 and Depression: Gaps and Guideposts in 2009 reported prayer and spirituality as primary, just below medication, psychotherapy or counseling and, for depression, exercise.

Forty percent of respondents living with depression reported spirituality as a primary form of treatment. Additionally, a majority reported that participation in their spiritual or religious practices had not been adversely affected by their depression.

For individuals living with schizophrenia, 38 percent reported a greater connection to religious or spiritual practices as part of their treatment and recovery.

It comes as no surprise then that MU study, reported in the paper, “Relationships among Spirituality, Religious Practices, Personality Factors, and Health for Five Different Faiths”, published in the Journal of Religion and Health, echoes NAMI’s own discovery.

MU explored recovery experiences of individuals of five main faiths: Buddhists, Muslims, Jews, Catholics and Protestants. Surveys were conducted of individuals self-reporting their physical health and mental health and highlight the relationship between these two conditions. Across all five practices, a greater degree of spirituality was related to better mental health and despite differences in beliefs among the world’s main religions, the study reveals that spirituality enhances health regardless.

"Our prior research shows that the mental health of people recovering from different medical conditions … appears to be related significantly to positive spiritual beliefs and especially congregational support and spiritual interventions," said Dan Cohen, assistant teaching professor of religious studies at MU and one of the co-authors of the study.

As health care providers, families, individuals and faith leaders continue to recognize the positive role of faith in recovery, they can better meet their own needs and the needs of their family members, patients and faith community and enhance their own and others’ experiences.

Read more  ( http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/249272.php ) on the Medical News Today website. Read the abstract ( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22618413 ) of the study.

NAMI FaithNet is an online community including a clearinghouse of grassroots perspectives, provides resources, tools and encouragement for individuals and all faith communities to assist in this effort. http://www.nami.org/faithnet

For inspirational songs, there's no place like hope

For inspirational songs, there's no place like hope
Article by: KIM ODE Star Tribune August 26, 2012
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/167371325.html

The next time you're seeking a source of inspiration, try singing
"Over the Rainbow." You know, um, the song that ends, "Why, oh why
can't I?"

Perception is a funny thing.
While the lyrics of the signature song from "The Wizard of Oz"
actually paint a mood of wistfulness wilting into despair, the
feelings perceived from Judy Garland's serenade to a place beyond the
clouds apparently are enough to make it No. 1 on a list of "Top 100
Most Inspiring Songs" as determined by Beliefnet.

Beliefnet, which describes itself as a multi-faith online resource for
inspiration and spirituality, compiled the list "as a guide for
individuals who seek encouragement and strength," according to a
release.

Granted, Dorothy sort of flew over a rainbow, and even though she
awoke vowing never "to leave here ever, ever again" because there's no
place like ... Oh, gosh, the music swells and you just know there must
be a place where dreams really do come true.

ROUNDING OUT THE TOP 10
•"What a Wonderful World," by Louis Armstrong
•"Lean on Me," by Bill Withers
•"Wind Beneath My Wings," by Bette Midler
•"Man in the Mirror," by Michael Jackson
•"We Are the Champions," by Queen
•"Greatest Love of All," by Whitney Houston
•"Imagine," by John Lennon
•"You Raise Me Up," by Josh Groban
•"One," by U2.

How Great Love Is

How Great Love Is

Once upon a time there was an island where all the feelings lived;
happiness, sadness, knowledge, and all the others, including love.

One day it was announced to all of the feelings that the island was going to
sink to the bottom of the ocean. So all the feelings prepared their boats to
leave.

Love was the only one that stayed. She wanted to preserve the island
paradise until the last possible moment. When the island was almost totally
under, love decided it was time to leave. She began looking for someone to
ask for help.

Just then Richness was passing by in a grand boat. Love asked, "Richness,
Can I come with you on your boat?"

Richness answered, "I'm sorry, but there is a lot of silver and gold on my
boat and there would be no room for you anywhere."

Then Love decided to ask Vanity for help who was passing in a beautiful
vessel. Love cried out, "Vanity, help me please."

"I can't help you," Vanity said, "You are all wet and will damage my
beautiful boat."

Next, Love saw Sadness passing by. Love said, "Sadness, please let me go
with you."

Sadness answered, "Love, I'm sorry, but, I just need to be alone now."

Then, Love saw Happiness. Love cried out, "Happiness, please take me with
you."

But Happiness was so overjoyed that he didn't hear Love calling to him.

Love began to cry. Then, she heard a voice say, "Come, Love, I will take you
with me." It was an elder. Love felt so blessed and overjoyed that she
forgot to ask the elder his name. When they arrived on land the elder went
on his way. Love realized how much she owed the elder.

Love then found Knowledge and asked, "Who was it that helped me?"

"It was Time," Knowledge answered.

"But why did Time help me when no one else would?" Love asked.

Knowledge smiled and with deep wisdom and sincerity, answered, "Because only
Time is capable of understanding how great Love is."


[sent by email without attribution]

How Great Love Is

How Great Love Is

Once upon a time there was an island where all the feelings lived;
happiness, sadness, knowledge, and all the others, including love.

One day it was announced to all of the feelings that the island was going to
sink to the bottom of the ocean. So all the feelings prepared their boats to
leave.

Love was the only one that stayed. She wanted to preserve the island
paradise until the last possible moment. When the island was almost totally
under, love decided it was time to leave. She began looking for someone to
ask for help.

Just then Richness was passing by in a grand boat. Love asked, "Richness,
Can I come with you on your boat?"

Richness answered, "I'm sorry, but there is a lot of silver and gold on my
boat and there would be no room for you anywhere."

Then Love decided to ask Vanity for help who was passing in a beautiful
vessel. Love cried out, "Vanity, help me please."

"I can't help you," Vanity said, "You are all wet and will damage my
beautiful boat."

Next, Love saw Sadness passing by. Love said, "Sadness, please let me go
with you."

Sadness answered, "Love, I'm sorry, but, I just need to be alone now."

Then, Love saw Happiness. Love cried out, "Happiness, please take me with
you."

But Happiness was so overjoyed that he didn't hear Love calling to him.

Love began to cry. Then, she heard a voice say, "Come, Love, I will take you
with me." It was an elder. Love felt so blessed and overjoyed that she
forgot to ask the elder his name. When they arrived on land the elder went
on his way. Love realized how much she owed the elder.

Love then found Knowledge and asked, "Who was it that helped me?"

"It was Time," Knowledge answered.

"But why did Time help me when no one else would?" Love asked.

Knowledge smiled and with deep wisdom and sincerity, answered, "Because only
Time is capable of understanding how great Love is."


[sent by email without attribution]

On being true to oneself

Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh: On being true to oneself


In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

Time and again I am asked by people on a concrete occasion "What is the Will
of God for me now, in the nearest future?" And I always refuse to speak in
God's own Name, because I believe that all I, or any priest, can do is to
stand before God in awe, and say, "Lord, Thou art the Truth, Thou art Life,
Thou are also the Way, teach this person; be to this person the Way,
enlighten this person with the truth, and bring him to such plenitude of
life as no one can either convey or give."

And yet there are things which can be done. Each of us is a freeman of God,
as St. Paul said clearly, He says there was a time when we all were slaves
of Satan, slaves of our passions, of our fears, slaves of all the things
that press on all sides and do not allow us to be true people. In Christ
freedom is granted; not license, but the freedom to be ourselves, the
freedom to grow into the fullness of the stature which God has dreamt for
us, to grow into fullness that will make us truly living members of the Body
of Christ, partakers of the Divine Nature.

On whatever step of our spiritual development we are, the first thing which
is required of us is that we should be true to ourselves: not to try to be
anyone except the person we are; not to try to ape any behavior, to force
ourselves into any mould in heart, in mind, in will which could be a lie
before God, to lie to ourselves, a deception for others. The first rule is
to be true to ourselves; and to be true with all the integrity, all the
passion, all the joy of which we are capable.

And what does this mean? Apart from what I said a moment ago, it means that
we must find who we are not only socially, but at another level.

And to do this, we can read the Gospel which is an image of what a true
human being is; not a book of commandments, of orders, as it were, given by
God, "Do this, and you will be right in My sight" no: it is a picture of
what a real human being thinks, feels, does and is. Let us look into the
Gospel as one looks into a mirror, and we will discover that in so many ways
we are a distorted image but that in a few ways perhaps, we are a true human
being already, at least potentially. Let us mark those passages of which we
can say, like Luke and Cleophas on the way to Emmaeus: Does not my heart
burn within me when I hear, when I read these words? How beautiful they are!
How true! That is life!.. And if you find one passage or another to which
you respond this way, rejoice; because at that point God has reached you at
the deepest level of your being, revealed to you who you truly are; but at
the same time revealed to you Who He truly is, shown you that you and He are
in harmony; that if you only become what you already, potentially, truly
are, you will become His like, the like of God; a true undistorted image -
at least in one or two things.

Then there is another move; if we want to be truly ourselves, we must
remember that God does not expect us to be what we are not, but what we are.
And that we can stand before God, and say to Him, 'Lord! I have read this
and that in the Gospel; I understand it with my mind; I believe in my heart
that it must be true; but it does not set my mind aglow, my heart on fire;
it does not stir my will, it does not transform me yet. Accept me as I am! I
will change - but for the moment I cannot respond to such a commandment, to
such an example. There is a passage so beautiful, to me, in the writings of
St. Mark the Ascetic in which he says, "If God stood before you, and said,
'Do this, and do that' and your heart could not answer 'Amen' - don't do it;
because God does not need your action: He needs your consent, and harmony
between Him and you."

Let us therefore try when we ask ourselves in an attempt to find out what
the Will of God is for us, not in the absolute, but now: where do I already
stand? What can I already now be and do, and do it wholeheartedly with God?
- because in the end, the aim of our spiritual life, of our life and our
faith in Christ does not consist in being drilled into doing one thing
rather than the other; it is to establish between God and us a relationship
of true friendship, of a joy of mutual freedom, and within this freedom,
within this friendship, in response to God's love, to God's respect for us,
to the faith He has in us, to the hope He has vested in us, and say 'This
person has understood that he is not a slave, that he is My friend' and He
is our friend. What a joy! And it is a gift of God, which we can give Him as
we received it from Him!

Amen.

* All texts are copyright: Estate of Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh,
Metropolitan Anthony Library

Simply Smiling Can Actually Reduce Stress

July 31, 2012 - Smithsonian Magazine
Simply Smiling Can Actually Reduce Stress
Posted By: Joseph Stromberg
http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2012/07/simply-smiling-can-actually-reduce-stress/?utm_source=smithsonianinsider&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=201208-insider

It sounds like the most useless advice imaginable: Just put on a happy
face. Conventional wisdom is that smiling is an effect of feeling
happy, rather than the other way around. Simply smiling in stressful
situations can't possibly make you feel any better, right?

Wrong. A fascinating new study by University of Kansas psychologists
that will soon be published in the journal Psychological Science
indicates that, in some circumstances, smiling can actually reduce
stress and help us feel better.

"Age old adages, such as 'grin and bear it,' have suggested smiling to
be not only an important nonverbal indicator of happiness but also
wishfully promotes smiling as a panacea for life's stressful events,"
said researcher Tara Kraft. "We wanted to examine whether these adages
had scientific merit; whether smiling could have real health-relevant
benefits."

To investigate the claim, the researchers recruited 169 willing
college students for a hands-on experiment. But they had to engage in
a bit of deception. Actually telling the participants that they were
testing whether smiling would make them happier would have distorted
the results, so the students were told that the experiment was about
multi-tasking.

First, the participants were instructed on how to perform an unusual
task: holding chopsticks in their mouths in particular ways that
prompted various facial expressions. They were divided into three
groups, one that was taught how to form a neutral expression, one that
learned how to form a normal smile, and one that was instructed to
form a Duchenne smile (also known as a genuine smile), which involves
the use of eye muscles, as well as those around the mouth.
Additionally, only half of the smilers actually heard the world
"smile" during the learning phase; the others were simply taught how
to hold the chopsticks in a way that produced smiles, without the
expression being identified as such.

Next, the students were put in "multi-tasking situations" that were
intentionally designed to be stressful. In the first one, they were
asked to trace a star shape with their non-dominant hand while looking
only at a mirror image of it, and were misled about the average
person's accuracy in completing the task. While attempting to execute
the maneuver with as few errors as possible to win a reward (a
chocolate), they were continually reminded to hold the chopsticks in
their mouths to maintain the intended facial expression. Afterward,
they were instructed to do the same as their hands were submerged in
ice water.

During and after each of these tasks, the participants' heart rates
were continuously monitored, and at regular intervals, they were asked
to report their levels of stress.

The experiment's findings were startling. As a whole, the smilers had
lower heart rates while recovering from the stressful tasks than those
who had assumed neutral expressions, and those with Duchenne smiles
had lower heart rates yet. Even those who were smiling only due to
their instructed chopstick position—without explicitly being told to
smile—showed the same effect. Since heart rate is an indicator of the
body's stress response, it seems as though the act of smiling actually
reduced the participants' overall stress level.

Most intriguingly, a small difference was noted in the self-reported
stress levels of the groups after the ice water task. Although the
amount of positive feelings declined for all participants after
putting their hands in ice water, the decline was slightly smaller for
smilers than for those with neutral expressions.

Researchers are baffled regarding why this might happen. The
connection between facial expressions and underlying mental states is
still largely unexplored, but some have suggested that smiling could
reduce levels of cortisol, a stress-related hormone. This study flips
our traditional understanding of emotion and appearance on its head:
Feeling good could sometimes be a consequence of smiling, not just the
other way around.

What does this mean for your daily life? When feeling stressed, try
forcing a smile on your face. If you can manage a genuine, Duchenne
smile—what people often refer to as "smiling with your eyes," not just
your mouth—that's even better. For whatever reason, forcing yourself
to look happier could actually end up helping you feel happier.

"The next time you are stuck in traffic or are experiencing some other
type of stress you might try to hold your face in a smile for a
moment," said Sarah Pressman, one of the researchers. "Not only will
it help you 'grin and bear it' psychologically, but it might actually
help your heart health as well."

Dealing with the problem of waiting

Spirituality: Dealing with the problem of waiting
5:41 PM, Jul. 6, 2012
http://www.stargazette.com/article/20120706/LIFE/207060352/1113/?nclick_check=1

I never really cared for the Monopoly board game. My problem is that I could never decide which game piece I wanted to be. I hated the hat and there's no way I'd take the wheelbarrow.

As a child, I always wanted the race car. But when I tried to claim it, my big sister would usually twist it from my hand and force me to take the little Toto dog. I wanted the race car because I had a need for speed and the car always made me feel I was getting somewhere.

I like a game that takes me places, not one that keeps me waiting. Unfortunately, a random roll of the dice often sent me to the worst place on the board -- jail. For someone with a wait-aversion, I hated jail because I was confined to watch my siblings pass me to collect their $200.

As a chaplain in the dual careers of military and hospital chaplaincy, I'm acquainted far too well with waiting. The most dramatic place I've played the waiting game is the hospital waiting room.

The room provides the setting for the hardest part of my job, waiting with people. When you are stuck in this waiting room, it doesn't matter how important you are, how beautiful or rich or how careful you've been; you are wedged, fixed and trapped in a room full of people where life has told them they must wait.

For example, I've waited with women as they are hospitalized through high-risk pregnancies, praying for their 30th week to bring the best chance of their baby's survival. I've waited with an agonizing father as he prays for pain medication to bring final comfort to his dying daughter. As a military chaplain, I've also waited with families as they hope against hope that the official confirmation of their loved one's fate will be averted.

However, I'd say that the hardest part about waiting with people in life's waiting room is standing with those who have not previously established the grip of faith in their lives.

Faith is the grip the parachutist feels when his harness tightens. Faith is the grip the trapeze artist knows as she hangs for a second in midair only to be snatched by a skillful partner. Faith is the grip we feel that comes from just beyond the edge of the darkness in which we stand. It's an authority that knows the darkness, but comes from the light.

Ancient scripture tells of three men who knew the grip of faith while living through trying political times. When the men formed a prayer group, the king saw their formation as political protest and punished them by throwing them into a fiery furnace. I've been in some warm waiting rooms, but the thermostat in this room was out of control.

Witnesses saw the men rescued from the fire by a presence brighter than the fire itself, someone they described as "an Angel of the Lord." But the real miracle wasn't the angelic rescue; the real miracle was that the Angel went into the fiery room in the first place.

When life puts us in heated waiting rooms, we may not always be able to walk out unscathed, but my prayer for you is that you will know a faith that the New Testament writer in Jude 1 described as something that will "keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating."

Norris Burkes is a syndicated columnist, national speaker and the author of "No Small Miracles." He also serves as an Air National Guard chaplain and is board certified in the Association of Professional Chaplains. You can call him at (321) 549-2500 or email him at ask@thechaplain.net or visit his website at www.thechaplain.net. Write him at P.O. Box 247, Elk Grove, Calif., 95759.

The Three Monks (Tolstoy)

Here it is (Leo Tolstoy, 1886):

AN OLD LEGEND CURRENT IN THE VOLGA DISTRICT

'And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.' -- Matt. vi. 7, 8.

A BISHOP was sailing from Archangel to the Solovétsk Monastery; and on the same vessel were a number of pilgrims on their way to visit the shrines at that place. The voyage was a smooth one. The wind favourable, and the weather fair. The pilgrims lay on deck, eating, or sat in groups talking to one another. The Bishop, too, came on deck, and as he was pacing up and down, he noticed a group of men standing near the prow and listening to a fisherman who was pointing to the sea and telling them something. The Bishop stopped, and looked in the direction in which the man was pointing. He could see nothing however, but the sea glistening in the sunshine. He drew nearer to listen, but when the man saw him, he took off his cap and was silent. The rest of the people also took off their caps, and bowed.

 

'Do not let me disturb you, friends,' said the Bishop. 'I came to hear what this good man was saying.'

 

'The fisherman was telling us about the hermits,' replied one, a tradesman, rather bolder than the rest.

 

'What hermits?' asked the Bishop, going to the side of the vessel and seating himself on a box. 'Tell me about them. I should like to hear. What were you pointing at?'

 

'Why, that little island you can just see over there,' answered the man, pointing to a spot ahead and a little to the right. 'That is the island where the hermits live for the salvation of their souls.'

'Where is the island?' asked the Bishop. 'I see nothing.'

 

'There, in the distance, if you will please look along my hand. Do you see that little cloud? Below it and a bit to the left, there is just a faint streak. That is the island.'

 

The Bishop looked carefully, but his unaccustomed eyes could make out nothing but the water shimmering in the sun.

 

'I cannot see it,' he said. 'But who are the hermits that live there?'

 

'They are holy men,' answered the fisherman. 'I had long heard tell of them, but never chanced to see them myself till the year before last.'

 

And the fisherman related how once, when he was out fishing, he had been stranded at night upon that island, not knowing where he was. In the morning, as he wandered about the island, he came across an earth hut, and met an old man standing near it. Presently two others came out, and after having fed him, and dried his things, they helped him mend his boat.

 

'And what are they like?' asked the Bishop.

 

'One is a small man and his back is bent. He wears a priest's cassock and is very old; he must be more than a hundred, I should say. He is so old that the white of his beard is taking a greenish tinge, but he is always smiling, and his face is as bright as an angel's from heaven. The second is taller, but he also is very old. He wears tattered, peasant coat. His beard is broad, and of a yellowish grey colour. He is a strong man. Before I had time to help him, he turned my boat over as if it were only a pail. He too, is kindly and cheerful. The third is tall, and has a beard as white as snow and reaching to his knees. He is stern, with over-hanging eyebrows; and he wears nothing but a mat tied round his waist.'

 

'And did they speak to you?' asked the Bishop.

 

'For the most part they did everything in silence and spoke but little even to one another. One of them would just give a glance, and the others would understand him. I asked the tallest whether they had lived there long. He frowned, and muttered something as if he were angry; but the oldest one took his hand and smiled, and then the tall one was quiet. The oldest one only said: "Have mercy upon us," and smiled.'

 

While the fisherman was talking, the ship had drawn nearer to the island.

 

'There, now you can see it plainly, if your Grace will please to look,' said the tradesman, pointing with his hand.

 

The Bishop looked, and now he really saw a dark streak -- which was the island. Having looked at it a while, he left the prow of the vessel, and going to the stern, asked the helmsman:

'What island is that?'

 

'That one,' replied the man, 'has no name. There are many such in this sea.'

 

'Is it true that there are hermits who live there for the salvation of their souls?'

 

'So it is said, your Grace, but I don't know if it's true. Fishermen say they have seen them; but of course they may only be spinning yarns.'

 

'I should like to land on the island and see these men,' said the Bishop. 'How could I manage it?'

 

'The ship cannot get close to the island,' replied the helmsman, 'but you might be rowed there in a boat. You had better speak to the captain.'

 

The captain was sent for and came.

 

'I should like to see these hermits,' said the Bishop. 'Could I not be rowed ashore?'

 

The captain tried to dissuade him.

 

'Of course it could be done,' said he, 'but we should lose much time. And if I might venture to say so to your Grace, the old men are not worth your pains. I have heard say that they are foolish old fellows, who understand nothing, and never speak a word, any more than the fish in the sea.'

 

'I wish to see them,' said the Bishop, 'and I will pay you for your trouble and loss of time. Please let me have a boat.'

 

There was no help for it; so the order was given. The sailors trimmed the sails, the steersman put up the helm, and the ship's course was set for the island. A chair was placed at the prow for the Bishop, and he sat there, looking ahead. The passengers all collected at the prow, and gazed at the island. Those who had the sharpest eyes could presently make out the rocks on it, and then a mud hut was seen. At last one man saw the hermits themselves. The captain brought a telescope and, after looking through it, handed it to the Bishop.

'It's right enough. There are three men standing on the shore. There, a little to the right of that big rock.'

 

The Bishop took the telescope, got it into position, and he saw the three men: a tall one, a shorter one, and one very small and bent, standing on the shore and holding each other by the hand.

 

The captain turned to the Bishop.

 

'The vessel can get no nearer in than this, your Grace. If you wish to go ashore, we must ask you to go in the boat, while we anchor here.'

 

The cable was quickly let out, the anchor cast, and the sails furled. There was a jerk, and the vessel shook. Then a boat having been lowered, the oarsmen jumped in, and the Bishop descended the ladder and took his seat. The men pulled at their oars, and the boat moved rapidly towards the island. When they came within a stone's throw they saw three old men: a tall one with only a mat tied round his waist: a shorter one in a tattered peasant coat, and a very old one bent with age and wearing an old cassock -- all three standing hand in hand.

The oarsmen pulled in to the shore, and held on with the boathook while the Bishop got out.

 

The old men bowed to him, and he gave them his benediction, at which they bowed still lower. Then the Bishop began to speak to them.

 

'I have heard,' he said, 'that you, godly men, live here saving your own souls, and praying to our Lord Christ for your fellow men. I, an unworthy servant of Christ, am called, by God's mercy, to keep and teach His flock. I wished to see you, servants of God, and to do what I can to teach you, also.'

 

The old men looked at each other smiling, but remained silent.

 

'Tell me,' said the Bishop, 'what you are doing to save your souls, and how you serve God on this island.'

 

The second hermit sighed, and looked at the oldest, the very ancient one. The latter smiled, and said:

 

'We do not know how to serve God. We only serve and support ourselves, servant of God.'

 

'But how do you pray to God?' asked the Bishop.

 

'We pray in this way,' replied the hermit. 'Three are ye, three are we, have mercy upon us.'

 

And when the old man said this, all three raised their eyes to heaven, and repeated:  'Three are ye, three are we, have mercy upon us!'  The Bishop smiled.

 

'You have evidently heard something about the Holy Trinity,' said he. 'But you do not pray aright. You have won my affection, godly men. I see you wish to please the Lord, but you do not know how to serve Him. That is not the way to pray; but listen to me, and I will teach you. I will teach you, not a way of my own, but the way in which God in the Holy Scriptures has commanded all men to pray to Him.'

 

And the Bishop began explaining to the hermits how God had revealed Himself to men; telling them of God the Father, and God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.

 

'God the Son came down on earth,' said he, 'to save men, and this is how He taught us all to pray. Listen and repeat after me: "Our Father."'

 

And the first old man repeated after him, 'Our Father,' and the second said, 'Our Father,' and the third said, 'Our Father.'

 

'Which art in heaven,' continued the Bishop.

 

The first hermit repeated, 'Which art in heaven,' but the second blundered over the words, and the tall hermit could not say them properly. His hair had grown over his mouth so that he could not speak plainly. The very old hermit, having no teeth, also mumbled indistinctly.

The Bishop repeated the words again, and the old men repeated them after him. The Bishop sat down on a stone, and the old men stood before him, watching his mouth, and repeating the words as he uttered them. And all day long the Bishop laboured, saying a word twenty, thirty, a hundred times over, and the old men repeated it after him. They blundered, and he corrected them, and made them begin again.

 

The Bishop did not leave off till he had taught them the whole of the Lord's prayer so that they could not only repeat it after him, but could say it by themselves. The middle one was the first to know it, and to repeat the whole of it alone. The Bishop made him say it again and again, and at last the others could say it too.

 

It was getting dark, and the moon was appearing over the water, before the Bishop rose to return to the vessel. When he took leave of the old men, they all bowed down to the ground before him. He raised them, and kissed each of them, telling them to pray as he had taught them. Then he got into the boat and returned to the ship.

 

And as he sat in the boat and was rowed to the ship he could hear the three voices of the hermits loudly repeating the Lord's prayer. As the boat drew near the vessel their voices could no longer be heard, but they could still be seen in the moonlight, standing as he had left them on the shore, the shortest in the middle, the tallest on the right, the middle one on the left. As soon as the Bishop had reached the vessel and got on board, the anchor was weighed and the sails unfurled. The wind filled them, and the ship sailed away, and the Bishop took a seat in the stern and watched the island they had left. For a time he could still see the hermits, but presently they disappeared from sight, though the island was still visible. At last it too vanished, and only the sea was to be seen, rippling in the moonlight.

 

The pilgrims lay down to sleep, and all was quiet on deck. The Bishop did not wish to sleep, but sat alone at the stern, gazing at the sea where the island was no longer visible, and thinking of the good old men. He thought how pleased they had been to learn the Lord's prayer; and he thanked God for having sent him to teach and help such godly men.

 

So the Bishop sat, thinking, and gazing at the sea where the island had disappeared. And the moonlight flickered before his eyes, sparkling, now here, now there, upon the waves. Suddenly he saw something white and shining, on the bright path which the moon cast across the sea. Was it a seagull, or the little gleaming sail of some small boat? The Bishop fixed his eyes on it, wondering.

 

'It must be a boat sailing after us,' thought he 'but it is overtaking us very rapidly. It was far, far away a minute ago, but now it is much nearer. It cannot be a boat, for I can see no sail; but whatever it may be, it is following us, and catching us up.'

 

And he could not make out what it was. Not a boat, nor a bird, nor a fish! It was too large for a man, and besides a man could not be out there in the midst of the sea. The Bishop rose, and said to the helmsman:  'Look there, what is that, my friend? What is it?' the Bishop repeated, though he could now see plainly what it was -- the three hermits running upon the water, all gleaming white, their grey beards shining, and approaching the ship as quickly as though it were not morning.

 

The steersman looked and let go the helm in terror.

 

'Oh Lord! The hermits are running after us on the water as though it were dry land!'

 

The passengers hearing him, jumped up, and crowded to the stern. They saw the hermits coming along hand in hand, and the two outer ones beckoning the ship to stop. All three were gliding along upon the water without moving their feet. Before the ship could be stopped, the hermits had reached it, and raising their heads, all three as with one voice, began to say:

 

'We have forgotten your teaching, servant of God. As long as we kept repeating it we remembered, but when we stopped saying it for a time, a word dropped out, and now it has all gone to pieces. We can remember nothing of it. Teach us again.'

 

The Bishop crossed himself, and leaning over the ship's side, said:

 

'Your own prayer will reach the Lord, men of God. It is not for me to teach you. Pray for us sinners.

 

And the Bishop bowed low before the old men; and they turned and went back across the sea. And a light shone until daybreak on the spot where they were lost to sight.