My Prayer

My prayer as we move into the "season of giving"

is that we go deeper and remember a larger picture.

Whether we are Christian or honor a different spiritual tradition,

may we care more and may our actions

increasingly reflect this deepening caring.

Americans comprise 5% of the global population

and yet consume 25% of the world's natural resources.

Today and every day 30,000 - 40,000 children die in America

and across the planet due to preventable poverty related causes.

Our way of life is not sustainable, cannot be exported to other countries,

comes at great cost to ourselves as Americans,

and results in profound suffering worldwide.

May we each vow to consume less and to care more.

May we remember what truly matters.

This is my prayer.

Peace & blessings,

Molly

* * *

This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples;

no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart

is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.

~ H.H. the Dalai Lama

Senator Menendez Speaks In Favor Of Health Care Reform

Senator Robert Menendez, democrat from New Jersey,

states in this powerful video that

IT IS TIME TO SAY YES!

"It is time to say YES to stop the greed of insurance companies

from standing between doctors and patients,

time to say YES to ending medical decisions based on

risk management and the bottom line

rather than on saving people's lives..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nYDQbvTK6o

Peace & blessings for all,

Molly

* * *

We do not have a money problem in America.

We have a values and priorities problem.

~ Marian Wright Edelman

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.

Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

If we're going to end welfare, the rich should be the first to lose it.

~ Mac Morgan

It's time for greatness -- not for greed. It's a time for idealism -- not ideology.

It is a time not just for compassionate words, but compassionate action.

~ Marian Wright Edelman

A Poem by Mary Oliver...

When death comes
like the hungry bear in autumn;
when death comes and takes all the bright coins from his purse

to buy me, and snaps the purse shut . . .

I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering:
what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?

And therefore I look upon everything
as a brotherhood and a sisterhood . . .

and I think of each life as a flower, as common
as a field daisy, and as singular . . .

and each body a lion of courage, and something
precious to the earth.

When it's over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms . . .

Dr. Edward Tick, of Soldier’s Heart, Speaks Out on Fort Hood Tragedy

This comes to us on Veterans Day by way of The Soldier’s Project. Dr. Edward Tick is the Director of Soldier’s Heart, a non-profit that aims to heal and support returning war veterans and their families and communities.

THE FT. HOOD TRAGEDY BELONGS TO US ALL

Edward Tick, Ph.D.

I have had the great honor of working with our fine and dedicated troops at Ft. Hood. I have spent time with the clergy, behavioral staff, officers and troops. I was deeply impressed and moved by their degree of commitment, sincerity, love of country and service, and willingness to sacrifice.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

Dr. Edward Tick, of Soldier’s Heart, Speaks Out on Fort Hood Tragedy

* * *

We must not allow ourselves to become like the system we oppose.

~ Bishop Desmond Tutu

When will our consciences grow so tender that we will

act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?

~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Veterans For Peace Statement on the Tragedy at Fort Hood

Veterans For Peace extends our sympathies to the families and soldiers of Fort Hood. The pain and sadness felt by the community is shared by our members. Nearly every day in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and other places across the globe tragedy strikes as a result of war. On November 5th, tragedy struck close to home.

The nation will mourn and try to make sense of this awful day. VFP does not pretend to know the answers, nonetheless as veterans, all who have trained for war and some who have seen death or taken life, we know that violence begets violence. The trauma of war stays with us and is passed on to others.

This event makes visible the countless hidden and forgotten tragedies. It shows us those tragedies are not restricted to the combat zone, but in ways big and small affect us at home, in our communities and as a people. It motivates us to work harder to end the madness of war.

* * *

I believe that to meet the challenges of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. Each of us must learn to work not just for oneself, one's own family or nation, but for the benefit of all humankind. Universal responsibility is the key to human survival. It is the best foundation for world peace.

~ H. H. the Dalai Lama

We are not going to deal with the violence in our communities, our homes, and our nation, until we learn to deal with the basic ethic of how we resolve our disputes and to place an emphasis on peace in the way we relate to one another.

~ Marian Wright Edelman

Namaste. I honour the place in your where the entire universe resides... a place of light, of love, of truth, of peace, of wisdom. I honour the place in you where when you are in that place and I am in that place there is only one of us.

~ Mohandas K. Gandhi

The girl who silenced the world for 5 minutes

Amazing, powerful, important!

This child reminds us of how urgently needed the actions are

by each and every one of us to educate ourselves about what

is happening in the world and then act in whatever way we can

to ensure that there will be a future for generations to come.

Our children and all the children of all the species on Mother Earth

are looking upon us in these times to see what choices we will make.

Please watch this video and share with others.

http://media.causes.com/510213?p_id=96443572

Thank you so much.

Peace & blessings for all...

Molly

* * *

The critical responsibility for the generation you're in is to help

provide the shoulders, the direction, and the support for those

generations who come behind.

~ Gloria Dean Randle Scott

Everything is material for the seed of happiness, if you look into it with inquisitiveness and curiosity. The future is completely open, and we are writing it moment to moment. There always is the potential to create an environment of blame -- or one that is conducive to loving-kindness.

~ Pema Chodron

It is not enough to be compassionate. You must ACT.

~ H.H. Dalai Lama