Sabbath Day, Sunday, August 31, 2008

Because we have fellow Americans who are in harms way along the Gulf Coast, here is a link to the LDS Church's website showing the help being given, as well as a link to the site for the American Red Cross. Please keep the people of the United States of America in your prayers tonight as the storm surge is expected to hit them at full strength around midnight, according to the National Weather Service.

Here are the links...

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

"In Advance of Hurricane Gustav, Aid Trucks Already Rolling
SALT LAKE CITY 29 August 2008 Tractor-trailers loaded with relief supplies have already left Salt Lake City headed toward the Gulf Coast, where Hurricane Gustav is expected to make landfall Tuesday morning. By that time experts are forecasting Gustav will reach a Category 3 status or possibly even a Category 5 status.

Trucks loaded with food, hygiene kits and cleaning kits left for the Gulf Coast yesterday and today. More trucks are being loaded and will leave tomorrow, and additional supplies stored at Church aid facilities in Louisiana and Texas are also being made available.

..."

The American Red Cross

"Sunday, August 31, 2008 — As mandatory evacuations are issued in the Gulf Coast states, the American Red Cross is starting to receive evacuees in shelters throughout the Gulf Coast. The Red Cross has relief operations ready in four states: Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Everyone in the path of the storm is urged to prepare, listen to officials and heed evacuation orders when instructed to do so; evacuation orders must be taken seriously.

..."

This is truly a lesson in preparedness for all of us around the globe.

"Invocation for Harmony and Joy", Meditation for Happiness

The following is an "invocation for harmony and joy" from Yoga Journal, page 22, September 2008.

"Loka Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu (Low-Kaah Suh-Muh-Staah Soo-khee-no Bhuh-vuhn-tu)

May everyone everywhere be happy.
May the whole world be joyous.

This prayer doesn't invoke a specific divinity and so isn't, strictly speaking, a mantra. But it is a well-known and beautiful Sanskrit blessing.

Blessings are intentional, focused thought-forms that have the power to affect the world, which, according to yogic philosophy, is shaped by consciousness. When a blessing is heard and echoed in the hearts of others, its power is reinforced.

Try bringing this blessing into your daily practice by chanting it at the end of your asana sequence or before meditation, and notice its subtle effect."

Time for a Change

"Just as some people don't manage their diets well, others don't manage their time well. They're not living a balanced life; consequently they are stressed out, always run-down. They've gotten into a habit of overworking. They rarely relax; they hardly ever exercise. They never take any free time for themselves. Unless they make changes and bring some balance into their lives, one day, that's going to catch up to them. You can live stressed out for a while, especially when you're young. But don't be surprised when your body suffers the consequences.

It's much better to develop good habits right now. Look at the way you live and ask, "Why am I doing what I am doing? Is this something that's been passed down to me by my family? Is this a good habit? Is it helping me become a better person?" If, in your analysis, you discover some habits that are not productive or profitable, dare to make the changes that will help you to replace them. Make sure that you're not allowing anything but God to master you."

--Joel Osteen, "Become a Better You, 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day"