THE FRUIT OF LABOR

The Fruit of your Labor

Don't have unrealistic expectations
of how or when your needs will be met.

If you ask for an apple, and an apple comes back,
it doesn't mean that you are God's favorite child.

It just means that it's apple season.
Be happy. Celebrate your good fortune.

If you asked for an apple, and you get a banana,
you can have two attitudes.

One is: "At least it's a fruit!"
The other is: "God doesn't like me
because he sent me a banana and I hate bananas."

If you want something bad enough,
getting a banana won't stop you.
But most of us don't know that.

Nine out of ten of us throw the banana back
and then slip on the peel!

Remember, if it's banana season and you need an apple,
you might have to be patient and wait for apple season!

Are you willing to wait?
How much do you really want an apple?
You see, this is completely about you.
It has nothing to do with anyone else!


From Everyday Wisdom by Paul Ferrini
www.paulferrini.com

WALKING THROUGH CLOSED DOORS

Walking through Closed Doors

Even if you don't know why a door is closed,
at least respect the fact that it is closed
and don't struggle with the doorknob.

If the door was open, you would know it.
Wanting it to be open does not make it open.

Much of the pain in your life happens
when you attempt to walk through closed doors
or try to put square pegs into round holes.

You try to hold onto someone who is ready to go,
or you try to get somebody to do something
before s/he is ready.

Instead of accepting what is and working with it,
you interfere with it and try to manipulate it
to meet your perceived needs.

Obviously, this doesn't work.
It just creates strife for yourself and others.

From Everyday Wisdom by Paul Ferrini
www.paulferrini.com

LOVE IS THE ASCENDING FORCE

Love is the Ascending Force

When you act in a loving way and speak loving words,
the Spirit dwells in you and is awakened in others.

At such times, physical reality
does not seem as dense as it seemed before.

When love is present, the body and the world are infused
with light, possibility and celebration of goodness.
The world you see when love is present in your heart
is not the same world that you see
when you are preoccupied with your ego needs.


From Everyday Wisdom by Paul Ferrini
www.paulferrini.com

THE BODY

The Body

The body is not bad or inferior in any way.
It is simply temporal.

You will never find ultimate meaning
by satisfying its needs.

Nor might I add will you find ultimate meaning
by denying its needs.
Taking care of the body is an act of grace.
Preoccupation with bodily pleasures or pains
is anything but graceful.


From Everyday Wisdom by Paul Ferrini
www.paulferrini.com