September 23, 2017

MY SEARCH FOR PEACE AND QUIET

“Peace and quiet”–two words that is so elusive. You can’t have one without the other. Whoever heard of peace without quiet – I haven’t. But I have found quiet times to be peaceful for very short time. I do not experience that situation often.

It seems lately that noise is so much louder and annoying than it used to be. Take the phone ringing – sometimes I feel like tearing the phone out of the wall. My dad used to do that, especially when his daughters were demanding their turn to use the phone. I understand why he did that. We had no phone calls for at least three days. The phone company couldn’t understand why they had to replace our phones so often. I remember when I ripped the phone out of the wall–I felt really good when I did that.

Then you have the doorbell. What can I say? It used to be pleasant to answer the doorbell. Nowadays you have to be careful before you answer the door. You never know who is there. So why do we even have door chimes? It used to be better than knocking on a door. Now I just resent having to answer the door at all.

I miss hearing the birds singing, but the air conditioners, pool pumps, and police car sirens, drown out nature’s serenades. The sounds of nature can be soothing and restful.

Where do we go to find peace and quiet? I don’t mean that we have to climb to the top of a mountain. I would be so tired all I could hear was the loud beating of my heart filling my ears. You could go to the beach, but you still have all the noise of motorcycles and people. You can’t hear the soothing sound of the ocean.

I used to get up at four in the morning to take my walks. I loved that time. It was so quiet and peaceful. I used that time to talk to God. Eventually it was not a good idea to venture out on your own.

Now that I am retired, you would think that I would have plenty of peace and quiet. I wish. Whoever said retirement could be boring didn’t know what they were talking about. Every day I make a list of things to do – but it is not necessary to do everything. That being said, I now have the afternoons to pursue peace and quiet. Just shut the door to your room, hang out a do not disturb sign, and take the phone off the hook. Music is a good way to relax you. Finally, you can enjoy the peace and quiet. You can use this time to revitalize yourself.

All I am saying, peace and quiet is needed to survive the hustle and bustle of your life. Absolutely! Everyone needs peace and quiet. It is necessary for us to get our thoughts in order and to renew the energy we need to cope with whatever is going on.

I have realized that I am perfectly happy being alone. You can let your creative side of your brain take over. Your imagination comes into play and you feel happy. At least I do. I love it when it is quiet in my house. You can hear the grandfather clock chiming the hour. It is reminding me that time never stops.

In pursuit of peace and quiet, I have learned that the best peace comes from Jesus. John 14:27 says: “Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you”. It is a peace that quiets your heart and calms your soul. Jesus is the only source of genuine peace.

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September 3, 2017

SOMEDAY

How many times have you said someday? Maybe you were putting off something that needed attention but you did not want to deal with decisions at that time. ‘Someday’ can mean not now but later, or it can be an excuse for never mind.

Well, my ‘someday’ has shown up in full force demanding to be reckoned with. For example, deciding to face all those postponed decisions that were put off until ‘someday’ is here.

I thought I had a lot of time left to deal with those irritating ‘someday’–but I don’t. Is it time to face reality and get my self organized? Pick the most important ‘someday’ and deal with it. Then pick out those ‘someday’ that need to be taken care of and prioritize the most important or pick out the one that will be the easiest to take care of.

It is time to clean closets, get rid of stuff, and down size. I am having a problem with what I want to do with my library. Books I have had for fifty or more years, I just can’t let them go. So ‘someday’ I will get serious about what books to keep and what books to give away.

As I get older, the days, months and years fly by, but time stands still for no one. I really thought I had a lot of time left and now realize I have to make sure my time is fruitful. All those things that I had to have, it is time to let them go. I have my memories and they will be with me forever.

So–self talk is needed here. That is the little voice that encourages you to get busy. It will never leave you alone until you do what you have to do. Self-talk has helped me to create a list of what I should do first. I did not realize how long that list was.

Now, ready or not, I am going to tackle one ‘someday’ per week. Maybe every other week would work be better? I don’t want to tire myself out by getting involved with ‘someday’.

I am having second thoughts about ‘someday’. I need to think this through before I make a bona fide commitment. What I need is a good excuse so I can seriously contemplate my future plans. How important is ‘someday’?

Shirley Sadocchi

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March 26, 2016

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

The love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ surpasses all understanding. It is unfailing, given in abundance and for all to receive.

Thank You, Jesus Christ, that You will let no one separate me from Your love. Even now, You stands before our Father God, interceding on my behalf, knowing what to pray for me, knowing what it is I need. Your Holy Spirit lives in me and is my Guide and Counselor.

Let me not be discouraged, nor falter in moving along the path You have set before me. Open the eyes and ears of my heart that I may see, hear and act on your Word. Even when I don’t know why I am in certain circumstances, I know that you are there with me.

You are the Creator of all things, You sustain the universe, You are the great “I AM” , Who was, Who is, and Who forever will be. I pray that I shall never let the world’s condemnations stop me from moving on Your chosen path, nor keep me from speaking your Name or of the love you have for all of us. Your mercy and forgiveness is for everyone and I pray that I shall share this message and not be discouraged nor let condemnation or fear of ridicule keep me from doing so.

I pray in Jesus’s most precious and Holy Name.
Amen

Romans 8:34-36 New International Version (NIV)
34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered

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October 24, 2015

Shirley has a new blog that you might want to read. Following is excerpt from it:

Do you ever question yourself about your relationship with God? Do you think you are becoming the person that God expects you to be? Or are you feeling that you are not progressing with your spiritual journey? I have asked myself all of the above questions at one time or another. One day I asked myself, am I trying with all my heart or am I just going through the motions that would please God. What was holding me back? Was it my reluctance to let go of the past and move on, or am I dragging my feet because I do not feel worthy to meet God’s requirements to be a good Christian. It is time for me to get serious about my relationship with God.

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October 24, 2015

Dealing with chaos

In my last blog, I stated that I can only think that I have been in a relatively calm period that I should want VERVE or excitement. Now that a new crisis has arrived, I realize how foolish I have been.

Yes, I wanted to change my life style, but I wanted the changes to be good ones, not bad ones. Now I realize that bad changes come and it is how we deal with them that reveals who we are. Letting go of anger, letting go of false expectations, letting go of grief, is the only way we can move forward.

Today I wanted to recap this period and, of course, started with getting quotes that would help and inspire me. Man, was I surprised to read these quotes because now I know that there is truth in them…that is, chaos can bring newness…new ideas, new changes that will allow growth and hopefully, eventually, understanding. Dealing with my fear of chaos and overcoming that fear was my biggest problem. Isn’t it funny that after we go through a difficult period that so many times we look for the inspiration that we should have sought at the beginning.

“Order brings sameness. Chaos brings newness every moment. The problem is first overcoming our fear of chaos, and then mining for the great ideas and bringing them back home.”

“Chaos in the midst of chaos isn’t funny, but chaos in the midst of order is.” Steve Martin

“Do not let your difficulties fill you with anxiety, after all it is only in the darkest nights that stars shine more brightly.” Harat Ali Ibn Abu-Talib A.S.

When critical events come into one’s life, it is amazing how quickly doubt comes in to play. Doubt about how to handle the problem that will change almost everything.

Did I do the right thing for everyone involved?
Am I seeing the problem right?
Is there a logical solution that will benefit everyone?
Where is the perspective that should allow me to step back and view the big picture?
Am I hearing the words spoken to me or is my hearing blocked by doubt?
Words are spinning in my head and scenarios abounding of possible conclusions (mostly bad) causing mass confusion.
Where did trust go? Trust that God is helping. Trust in the good and expert advice that was sought. Trust in the goodness of the people one is dealing with.
Where did my sense of humor go? I now realize that the ability to laugh at one’s self is so necessary when going through difficult times as it gives perspective to the situation.

Tunnel vision is another problem that can happen during a crisis. Even though we may be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, we can’t see the hurts and anxiety that others in our life may be going through. Our own problems loom so largely often times it works like the blinders on horses that doesn’t allow them to see anything but the road ahead. During some of my most difficult times recently, I did not sense the anxiety and worries that others close to me were also going through.

While I was going through this chaotic time, I became nervous, sleeplessness prevailed and I felt that my life was changing too fast and I felt scared. I was dealing with anxiety, and most of all, I suffered from a mental block. Such feelings of apprehension would come over me that at times I felt immobile, unable to walk, talk or think. I also felt as if I was in a double life, one in which I must act as though everything in my life was going well and concealing the turmoil inside. As I finished this last week and the decisions were made, I felt some relief and a belief that there was going to be good coming from it; that a strengthening would come.

Most of all, I wanted my closeness with God to strengthen. I wanted His Word to become more important than anything else and to know that the following is true: Struggles will always be with us and anxiety and vulnerabilities to circumstances are part of living.

There are many books that can help us to deal with the anxiety and panic that comes upon us during times of chaos in our life. Techniques of breathing and meditation to calm the body and mind can be very beneficial. My favorite will always be the Bible. His promise of peace in the midst of a storm, His shelter in times of distress and His Love for us gives me the most comfort and the most security.

1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.

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