If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise.
- Robert Fritz
email: thechautauqua@gmail.com
Wednesday, 20 December 2006
Monday, 18 December 2006
Friends
When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advise, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.
- Henri Nouwen
Friday, 15 December 2006
December 15, 2006 Chautauqua
From the Editor's Computer
In this season of hustle and bustle hither and yon for shopping and parties...events galore, don’t forget to take some time by yourself, just for yourself.
This year, let your Christmas present to yourself be some time alone to experience some peace and to reflect on the year that is behind us. Allow the quietness around you to soak deep into your being so that you can emerge refreshed and renewed for the next activity.
Merry Christmas to you all...and may 2007 be your best year ever!
Beth
Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IohNI_557sygIfQHG0E-fjI22MfGoMsS/view?usp=sharing
Wednesday, 13 December 2006
Gratitude
Can you see the holiness in those things you take for granted--a paved road or a washing machine? If you concentrate on finding what is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.
- Rabbi Harold Kushner
Monday, 11 December 2006
Dive into the woods...
Leave the beaten track occasionally and dive into the woods. Every time you do so you will be certain to find something that you have never seen before. Follow it up, explore all around it, and before you know it, you will have something worth thinking about to occupy your mind. All really big discoveries are the results of thought.
- Alexander Graham Bell
Friday, 8 December 2006
Mistakes
The way you get better in everything in this life is to make mistakes. Otherwise you're probably doing it right by accident. But you have to do everything wrong before you can really start with some authority to do it right.
- Tobias Wolff
Wednesday, 6 December 2006
Pass by...
I shall pass this way but once. Therefore any good that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now.
—attributed to William Penn
Monday, 4 December 2006
Dreams
We must nurture our dreams like we would a child. They are God-given and just as precious. Without ambition how would a child learn to ride a bicycle, play an instrument or whistle? We deny the spirit of God when we as adults settle for less than our dreams!
- Conway Stone
Friday, 1 December 2006
December 1, 2006 Chautauqua
From the Editor's Computer
Alice laughed: "There's no use trying," she said. "One can't believe impossible things."
"I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
· Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Could you do it? Could you believe in six impossible things before breakfast?
Impossible things such as what you want to do with your life... what you want to be... where you want to go... what you want to accomplish…
Once you identify your impossible things...then start to truly believe that they are not impossible at all.Can you do that?
Beth
Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g4Ar5WjSaf3_IecQ7uEMYq1JSjXug_1m/view?usp=sharing
Monday, 27 November 2006
Encouraging thought
When you come to the end of all the light you know, and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: Either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly.
- Edward Teller
Friday, 17 November 2006
November 17, 2006 Chautauqua
From the Editor's Computer
There is a new online discussion forum
that is being promoted through the United Church of Canada called Wondercafe (www.wondercafe.ca). The purpose of this online forum is to
promote and encourage discussion about a variety of topics (including religious
beliefs) in an open and accepting manner.
I found the responses of some of the participants to be quite
interesting.
First...there is a group that
believes they are RIGHT! No ifs, ands or
buts. They seem to feel that the only
way that they can get their point across and change others’ minds
is to keep hammering incessantly the message, “YOU’RE WRONG! YOU’RE WRONG!
YOU’RE WRONG!”
This response has an immediate
effect of totally killing any future conversation.
Secondly, there is another group,
not quite as harsh as the first, but close, who seem to feel that that only way
to dialogue is to quote Bible verses (nothing wrong with that in the right
context) and not venture a single original thought of their own. Again their message is “You’re wrong because
the Bible says…”
Again, their response does nothing
more than stop any progress that could have been made in terms of furthering
the conversation along as they are not really willing to participate or respect
the others views.
Thirdly, there is a group that is
somewhat willing to listen to others’ opinions, but they still think everyone
else is wrong and feel compelled to point that out every once in a while. However they are more polite about it and
thus conversation can continue, and isn’t immediately stifled.
Fourthly, there is a group that is
willing to express their views in a gentle, nonjudgmental manner. They are willing to dialogue with others and
find out why they have a differing view from their own. They are able to share in an enriching
experience of learning something they didn't know. They don’t agree with everything the others
say, but they are open to listening and learning so they can find common
ground.
When you are faced with differing
views from your own...how do you respond?
Do you shut down the lines of communication, or do you gently and
respectfully allow the other person to express their views and be heard?
Beth
To contact The Chautauqua, email: thechautauqua@gmail.com.
Friday, 3 November 2006
November 3, 2006 Chautauqua
From the Editor's Computer
I don’t normally get involved in political
discussions, but this whole “Belinda Stronach” deluge in the media the last
month has been a little hard to ignore.
Contrary to what many media
personalities have said in the past, I, personally, do not find Belinda to be a
wonderful role model as a politician or businesswoman for Canadians - women and
young women in particular. Granted, you
cannot believe everything you read or hear in the news, however, it is
precisely what we are hearing and reading that shapes what type of person we
perceive Belinda, and other public
figures, to be and what kind of role model she is perceived as.
If we want to be effective role
models for others, and especially for the youth in our communities, we need to
learn a few things.
Firstly, we all need to learn that
‘demanded’ apologies are a waste of time.
Either you wait forever for what you consider is “your due,” never
receiving it, or you do get the apology and it is as fake and insincere as can
be as it has been forced from the person.
Second, we all need reminded that
you sow what you reap...what you give out will be what is returned to
you...life always mirrors back to you what you are showing life. If you feel that you are being treated
poorly, how are you treating others?
Thirdly, we all need to learn that
being a ‘victim’ is a personal choice.
Now it is possible that someone could rob you or beat you. Thus, you are a victim of a robbery or a
beating. However, once the event happens
and is done it is your choice whether you move on or wallow in the hurt and
misery of a victim mentality. You cannot
turn back the clock and undo actions, words or thoughts so you might as well
get past it and learn from the experience.
Let it go!
Fourthly, we all need reminded
that no one is exempt from the consequences of their actions. When the consequences seem delayed we have
tendency to get complacent and think we got off Scott free. The truth is there are consequences to
everything you do, whether for good or not.
We must remember to consider the consequences before every decision we
make.
Whether we realize it or not, we
are all role models to those who interact with us every day. Are you a good role model?
Beth
To contact The Chautauqua, email: thechautauqua@gmail.com.
Friday, 20 October 2006
October 20, 2006 Chautauqua
From the Editor's Computer
Here we are, halfway through
October, and look how green and lush it still is in places.
I think our grass is the greenest
and healthiest it has been all year.
Some of the trees still have a number of very green leaves, which
contrast very well with the red and yellow leaves that have already turned.
Even though this is normally a
time when nature starts slow down in order to prepare for the cold winter
months ahead, there are areas where we can see new growth and renewed life.
As in nature, we go through stages
where we feel like we’re ready to hibernate from the old winter months of our
lives.
It is at this time when we should
be learning new skills, taking part in new activities, making new friends,
going new places, and challenging ourselves in new ways.
This fall, don’t start to
hibernate...perk up and show the world, and yourself, what you are capable
of.
It is never to late to bloom!
Beth
To contact The Chautauqua, email: thechautauqua@gmail.com.
Friday, 6 October 2006
October 6, 2006 Chautauqua
From the Editor's Computer
Ever notice how you enter a new place, or try
a new activity, and you immediately attempt to make the situation one that you
are already familiar with?
We do this all the time. We go to an unfamiliar place and if we’re
lucky there is someone familiar there who we can latch onto for dear life to
get us through. Or we make a point of doing
new tasks in a manner that is similar to how we always do things, or we only do
the parts we feel comfortable with.
In one of my courses we have a lot
of opportunity to offer feedback and discussion interaction in an online
mode. Too many of the students are stuck
on the fact that online interaction is not the same as face-to-face
interactions. By trying to make the
online environment just like an in-person interaction, they are missing out on
the unique online opportunities for learning and relating to others that we are
being offered.
This fall, try something new, go
somewhere you’ve never been before, and experience it JUST AS IT IS! You may be amazed.
Beth
To contact The Chautauqua, email: thechautauqua@gmail.com.
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