And Another Easter Thought

From a random forwarded email from a friend - sometimes the best stuff comes that way! Here's a prayer for tomorrow:

Saint Theresa's Prayer
May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.

'Worry looks around, Sorry looks back, Faith looks up.'

Mel's Meditation on Easter

Trade Offs
by Melissa Borgmann

What if we stepped into that space?
Recognized our nearness to death:
Thorny piercing of skin
Nails through the wrists
(because the palms would not have worked, right?)

See this:
Sharply hammered iron pins that are driven through epidermis, veins,
move over bone.
Yes.
Affixed.
[Can you imagine the craftsman who forged that spike?]

Lungs collapsing from the tug of ribs
Pulled down by the weight of legs
Chest cavity crushing spirit.

And we try to breath.
We try.
He tries. We try.

Something like blood or sweat trickles down from the temples.
Do you get a headache? Appropriate, or not?

Yes, “This crucifixion gives me a headache.”
[“Me, too.”]

Pain is so inconvenient.
Suffering so easily remedied by, say, a cocktail?
A glass of wine appears.
The bitter irony of drink.

This is my body, given up for you.
This is my blood, shed for you and for all, so that sins may be forgiven.
Do this in remembrance of me.

Have the meal, it is much easier.

Amen.

Read more on Melissa's blog

MN Ranked 5th in Health & Happiness

A recent Strib article (3/11/09 - ok, I'm a little behind here!) says that a new Gallup poll ranks MN 5th overall in health & happiness - behind only Utah, Hawaii, Wyoming & Colorado.

More specifically, MN ranked:
* 1st in physical health
* 2nd in basic access (medical care, healthy food, safe neighborhoods, etc)
* 4th in emotional health
* 17th in work quality
* 19th in healthy behavior
* 23rd in life evaluation

The state that was first in each area:
* Physical Health: Minnesota
* Basic Access: Massachusetts
* Emotional Health: Hawaii
* Work Quality: Utah
* Healthy Behavior: New Mexico
* Life Evaluation: Hawaii

I knew there was a reason I was living in a state that SNOWED on April 4th!!!