Here’s another Pearl of Wisdom for friends, and those seeking self reliance and sobriety.
“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;
My religion is kindness.”— Dalai Lama
Rev. Dr. Rainbow Johnson
ADAAP Clergy Counselor
The only way to get what you really want, is to know what you really want.
And the only way to know what you want, is to know yourself.
And the only way to know yourself, is to be yourself.
And the only way to be yourself, is to listen to your heart.— Mike Dooley
Rev. Dr. Rainbow Johnson
ADAAP Clergy Counselor
Who so keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
– Proverbs 21:23
“Be still and know that I am God …”
– Psalm46:10
Ashley is a beautiful young teenage girl, who has just had her hair cut in a very “mod” style like some of the famous rock stars. She began working part-time for the lady next door. The day she had her hair cut was her first day on her new job. “Ashley,” said her employer, “you’re such a beautiful girl, but you need to do something with your hair!” Ashley said nothing and just started to work. In the middle of the day, the woman complimented her on her work, adding, “You need to do something about your hair.” Once again, Ashley said nothing and went about her business. At the end of the day just before Ashley was to go home, her employer said, “Ashley, you really are a lovely girl, and I’m actually getting to like your hair!”
Rama has gone to Russia many times on cultural exchange missions to promote peace between Russia and the U.S. On her last visit, she made a request of a Russian official who said to her, “I’m sorry, Madame, I can do absolutely nothing for you.” Rama sat quietly, simply feeling love for him. The official reiterated, “I’m very sorry, Madame, there is nothing I can do for you.” Rama did not respond to him verbally. She continued sitting there quietly, feeling love for him. Finally, after several moments had elapsed, he turned to her and said, “If there’s anything I can do for you, Madame, I’d be delighted. Just ask me!”
Today I understand the phrase, “Be still and know that I am God. Instead of being quick to respond verbally, I shall appraise each situation I encounter and know the spiritual truth about it. I shall know only the good, only the love, only the harmony and peace wherever I go.
Thank You, Father!
Rev. Dr. Rainbow Johnson
ADAAP Clergy Counselor
As children bring their broken toys
With tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God
Because He was my friend.
But then, instead of leaving Him
In peace to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help
With ways that were my own.
At last I snatched them back and cried,
“How can you be so slow?
“My child,” He said, “what could I do?”
You never did let go.”
— Author Unknown
Rev. Dr. Rainbow Johnson
ADAAP Clergy Counselor
With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
– Matthew 19:26
“Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.”
Have you ever had an argument with your inner voice?
Have you ever tried to reason with it when its guidance seemed impossible to believe?
The situation is staring you in the face, and you just know your inner voice is telling you to do something that cannot possibly happen. “How can I know the Spiritual Truth in this situation” you wonder, when the facts are totally telling you it can’t be done?
I was presenting a workshop in Long Island. My inner voice inspired me to have the group do an exercise that involved a great deal of walking from one person to another. I argued with my inner voice, “But God, I can’t have these people do this exercise. One of them is in a wheel chair and she could not possibly do the walking.” The voice within continued to urge me to do it. I kept resisting. “This experience will not only embarrass her, God, it will shame her in front of her friends!” But my inner voice was relentless. It finally got so “loud,” I had to give in. I presented the exercise, and you know what happened? The person in the wheel chair got up and actually walked for the first time in years! So now, I make it a point to listen to my inner voice (almost all of the time).
Today I listen to the still small voice within me without judgment and honor it. I find that the more I listen, the clearer it becomes. My life is transformed into an amazing adventure, as I explore hitherto unknown regions. Look out world, here I come!
Rev. Dr. Rainbow Johnson
ADAAP Clergy Counselor