By Sharon Ray
Last week I moved my dad out of his house in Los Angeles to a home in the California desert. There was nearly 70 years worth of things to move out! By the time the big truck had pulled away, I had Dad’s car packed almost to the ceiling—and then, his car wouldn’t start!
We had to get to the desert fast in order to be there when the truck arrived the next morning. It was such an outrageous situation that I knew: God was up to some mysterious good. I decided to stay peaceful.
I went in the house to find my daughter. “Want to know something funny?” I asked her.
She had the solution right away, pulling a stranger out of his car to jump my dad’s vehicle. The third time he jumped the car my daughter kept her foot on the accelerator so it wouldn’t die.
With her foot on the accelerator, my daughter whipped out her iPhone, like the Lone Ranger draws his trusty gun, “BMW dealership, are you still open? Can I bring in a car? Yes? Okay, we will be there in 20 minutes….Enterprise? Do you have an SUV left for rent today? Yes? Okay we will be there shortly; please hold it for us.” I am truly blessed to have such a capable daughter as Charlene.
My 92 year old beloved dad was in the house going through little drawers to see if he had left anything behind. God only knows if we would EVER have gotten him out of there if it hadn’t been for the transportation emergency!
The very last day I was going to leave the desert after helping Dad settle in, he said in a most pitiful and sad way, “Why don’t you stay one more night. You don’t have a reason to leave today.”
I stayed one more night, and we went through a box of family photos, enjoying our time together hugely. We found two wonderful photos of my sweet Mother, and one of Dad that we framed immediately and set on the kitchen table. It was an evening ordained by God many days before, and made possible by the most unlikely events.
Truly, everything happens for a reason, and God makes all things work unto the good of those who love Him.
By Sharon Ray
Last night I came back to my cabin after dark, but I had left the porch light on so was able to see into the birdbath which has been the friend of so many birds AND bees this year. To my surprise, there at the edge of the water sat a little frog. He was so small and plump that “Adorable” must be the name his mama gave him. He was totally content. His body was halfway submerged and he was in such a state of deep relaxation (bordering on bliss), that he did not stir although I passed within a couple feet of him.
I was completely charmed, and could have left it at that, but I began to think in terms of wonder at this tiny creature: how on earth did he get up into that birdbath? It stands about three feet off the ground supported by a slippery plastic pole which he could not have climbed. He must have actually JUMPED up there; but how did he know that there was water in the bowl? He could not have seen it from the ground, being only knee high to a blue jay.
So here is my story…
Froggy was born in a little pool far up the valley. A pool that has long since dried out in this summer drought. Froggy was thirsty, and he longed to be cool and slimy all over.
“Fugetabout it, pal,” his friends told him. “We are all gonna die of thirst, there ain’t no water ‘round here nowheres.”
But Froggy believed in his heart that somewhere he would find what he needed and longed for, and that the Lord would help him locate it. So, with a fervent prayer for help and protection, he set out to find water.
This was no easy task since Froggy was so little and the valley was so big. Froggy put out his best effort, travelling at night as smart froggies do. He stopped once or twice to sing and keep his spirits up.
After days and days (which is equivalent to years and years in human terms), froggy got wind of a sense, the sense that water was around somewhere not too far. He came upon this tall structure (three feet was very tall) with a bowl on top.
“I can’t SEE water, but I just KNOW it’s there!” said Froggy with the faith that could have moved mountains of water. He took three deep, yogic breaths and JUMPED with all his might off of my porch step and landed on target in the middle of my birdbath.
“Ahh, water! Thank you God!” little Froggy exclaimed with all his heart.
Swimming in gratitude, he moved himself to the edge of the bath where he relaxed. He contemplated the goodness of God and how much God loves him that He would lead him to the cool waters.
The Lord, seeing how much Froggy loved Him, stretched out His hand of Grace, and blessed the little frog right into Samadhi.
That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
Now, Froggy, was in dire circumstances and near death from drought, yet he had the courage to travel far and pray and believe in his salvation, and he found and received it. Can I not then do the hard things that I know I must do to share his same destiny? Everyone knows for himself what he must give up, do, or practice in order to win the Pearl of Great Price.
Oh, let’s all JUMP!
By Sharon Ray
I’m waking up to gratitude for the AMAZING life God has given me. I feel that if there is one thing we can do to truly bless God in this life, it is to BE HAPPY. The Divine lives in us. If we are happy, He feels our happiness. If we are discontent and down hearted, She feels that too. It’s like being in love and waking up next to my beloved. Would I say, “Good morning, Honey. Life is so hard. I’m so depressed.” What kind of partner would THAT be, lol! No, for the sake of my Beloved, I must wake up and say, “Good morning, Darling! It’s a new day! I can’t wait to go on many adventures with You today. Oh, let’s LOVE this world together. I’m so thankful that you are in my life!”I just made myself a mug of Yogi tea, and guess what the tag says!
“The purpose of life is to enjoy every moment.”
I’m going to go make another cup of tea…this one is for God.
by Sharon Ray
This week on California Gold, Huell Howser took viewers to a Japanese restaurant that was in a pickle over a certain fish. Three times they had enlarged his tank, but the fish kept growing and growing, and had now outgrown its third walled water home. What was the big red thing on the fish’s nose? A callous because he kept bumping into the glass walls of his aquarium!
Huell accompanied the restaurant owners as they transported the big fellow to his new home: the lake at Church of Self-Realization’s Lake Shrine!!
Can you imagine how elated that lucky fish must have felt, now free to swim as much as he likes in spacious waters? Previously, he must have thought to himself, “Well, this is my life. I’m stuck. I have had three tanks, and I’m always stuck. This is always gonna be my life; how awful!” That fish had no idea what compassion surrounded him, and what a wonderful destiny awaited him. Not only was he released from his tight prison, but he was taken to God’s swimming pool at Lake Shrine!
We can never know what Grace awaits us just around the corner.
by Sharon Ray
Lao Tzu wrote, “For the one who is always busy, there is no hope.”
How busy I am, running around doing, doing—my body hurts!
Ah, but it’s close to 7 p.m. on a summer’s eve here at Sunburst, and I am in Grace.
I’ve showered and taken my dinner out onto the porch. The light is golden all around and I notice a cricket is singing a lovely note. It’s otherwise so quiet. Sitting on my chair I look to the lavender bush and see the many, many honey bees still collecting nectar; their lives matter. I hear another sound; it’s the cows munching on grass; they matter too. How nice to sit still long enough to get out of my own world and see Life happening around me—other lives, lives I share my world with.
In this quiet I notice that the cricket stops. He takes a breath. He sings again, and stops to take another rest. When he pauses, I pause too, spoon in mid air. I am still…like him.
And there is hope for me… yes, because blessedness is here, and I have slowed down to the speed of Grace.
