Your Daily Compass

  Second Meditation on The Lord's Prayer Have you ever wondered about the deep meaning behind Jesus’ teachings? Once we grasp this wonderful metaphysics of love and humanity's potential, we can infuse it into our meditation. This can help us connect with God's abundance and love through various factors, including faith, gratitude, and visualization. As a gentle reminder, if you seek to dedicate time to deep prayer and meditation, it is beneficial to accompany these practices with a relaxed state, facilitated by proper breathing, as well as a mental state free from negativity. One effective technique I use is to create what I call “set-points”. I create and then consciously remember my physical state for both breathing and relaxation. I also create a 'set point' for my mental state that is void of worry, fear, and negativity. These set points are like signposts on a journey. They serve as markers to guide me more effectively toward the desired state of preparation ...

  Opening thoughts I thank St. Bartholomew Church and the Paletta family for the honor of delivering a recent eulogy for my Uncle Jim. Earlier that day, I had a bit of a warning from God that my presentation of this man might not be easy. This is partly because summarizing a person's life in a few minutes is impossible for anyone. We can never truly do justice to their story. All we can do is try our best, seek forgiveness from the departed, and hope they are content with our tribute. The highlight of my day was conversing with Angie and listening to her heartfelt tales about her grandparents. It was a more meaningful tribute than anyone could have orchestrated. We all do this, starting with the viewing and ending with the breaking of bread and sharing smiles after the cemetery.    This tradition of bidding farewell to the ones we love dates back to Ancient Egypt, the Greeks, and the Romans, and it has been preserved by Judaism and Christianity. We attempt to honor...

  Using our God-given faculties in prayer In a past blog blast, we discussed the power of sticking to your prayer routine. Some folks treat prayer like a business deal, clocking in with lines like "I sent up a prayer" or "I prayed my heart out." If prayer is drudgery to you, this blog can help you rethink prayer. Some may see their spiritual journey as preparing for a marathon - it's all about getting ready for the big run. It doesn’t need to be that hard, but prayer does need its prep. It's all about building that inner strength to power. Preparing for a race with proper training can lead to some major rewards. Learning to pray with the right mindset can lead to magical transformation. Learning to pray Our spiritual laws operate similarly. Take The Lord’s Prayer, for instance; We can mechanically repeat this prayer five times in a row, our minds wandering elsewhere. Alternatively, we can recite it with intense concentration and profound contemplatio...

  Jesus and the magic of attitude - In the book “Become the Boss of You,” we are taken into the realm of magic to make a point. The book highlights two iconic figures: Glinda, the kind-hearted witch from The Wizard of Oz, and Gandalf, the wise wizard from The Lord of the Rings. In this tale of magic, Dorothy's remarkable willingness to accept Glinda's aid is a testament to her childlike openness. I would not trust the counsel of a stranger and venture away from the only world I just landed in accompanied by a dog that offered me no protection. Dorothy does just that. Similarly, Frodo Baggins displays a similarly open and innocent demeanor towards Gandalf's guidance. Embracing childlike faith in Jesus's teachings can bring profound benefits, leading to growth and understanding for a more enriching life. The teachings of Jesus and the teachings of God were revolutionary in their time, and understanding the societal challenges they faced can deepen our appreciation ...

Introduction to The Lord’s Prayer. To me, the Lord’s Prayer is the most important. If I could only have one, that would be it. It is by far the one I cling to the most. I understand that this is my personal opinion. Yet, it's a belief I've held close throughout my life that has come to my aid time and again. As we take a deeper dive into the Lord's Prayer, it is apparent that it isn't just any prayer. It's more like a code of faith. Almost as if it were a magic instrument for spiritual growth. Some consider the Lord’s prayer a summary of the good news Jesus taught. The Lord’s prayer is full of powers that help us. Think about the meanings of every phrase because each one is put there for a reason. Repeating and declaring the Lord’s prayer with emotion energizes us. It grounds us. It revitalizes us. You can receive practical spiritual advice once you learn the meaning behind what Jesus taught us in this prayer. One way to begin is to recite this prayer from memory or...

  Trust and Truth – We all feel the weight of our uncertain times. It's an era where we might wake up to news of our hard-earned savings taking a hit or our job being outsourced. It's a time when even the institutions we once trusted seem questionable. We come across articles about fact-checking, which leaves us wondering, “Can I really trust the fact-checker?” Trust appears to be under siege. Our capacity to have faith seems uncertain as technology marches forward. Truth should reflect reality. It should be a constant. A fact impervious to the whims of the day. Yet, the optics are not good. Our news sources, political leaders, and even those who wear clothing to represent themselves with the divine can fall short of our need for truth. If you need the truth and ask a behavior scientist, they may tell you it is a difficult concept, but not to worry. We can measure it. We can get to it by combining Correspondence, Coherence, and Pragmatic theories. So, you go home and look up t...

                        Have you ever questioned your actions amidst the chaos of constant busyness? If you have a Bible, you'll discover that some of the answers you seek are timeless and remarkably relevant to modern lives. Let's look at two relevant scripture quotes.  Romans 12:8 – “ If it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is to give, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” Proverbs 1:5-7 states: "Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance— for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." In the recently published e-book “Become the Boss of You," we explore what makes a good boss and show how to develop the qualities needed to get there. Respect and encouragement are topi...