 Spiritual: August 20, 2008 Issue [#2566] |
  Spiritual
This week: Edited by: Kitti the Red-Nosed Feline  
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What do insects have to do with spirituality? In this Newsletter I'll explore the connection between nature and spiritual wellbeing.
kittiara |
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With warmer weather comes an increase in insects. It’s unavoidable. Even though British summers can hardly be called warm, in general, they are out there, humming and buzzing and going about their merry way. Occasionally, a few of them will infiltrate my house.
I’m not keen on insects. In fact, many of them scare me. I’m scared of any insect I know or think might bite or sting. Which pretty much leaves my love for butterflies and moths, though I am alright with ladybirds.
My aversion for these little beings tends to come into play when I go for walks. My village is surrounded by hills and woods, little streams and waterfalls. It’s insect heaven. Many a time I’ve had my nerves tested by wasps or inquisitive bees. I know that they are probably not very interested in me, and that they are just going about their daily business, but still…
Sometimes I wonder why I, and many others, don’t like insects. Many of them can bite and sting, this is true. But then, dogs can bite. Cats can scratch. Many of the animals we love can cause us harm, and yet we keep a good many of them as our daily companions.
I think that the difference is that cats and dogs, for example, are cute. The wild animals we admire, such as tigers and bears, are beautiful. Not many people, at least the people I know, would say the same about insects (apart from, perhaps, butterflies and a couple of others).
As usual, you may wonder what this has to do with spirituality. The answer is that every being has a place in this world. It’s quite miraculous how everything fits together to make things work. To me, the intricate system that keeps the world functioning is truly evidence that life on Earth is no mistake, or random event. To me, it is evidence of a Creator.
I’m still in awe at how different species can happily co-exist. I love how the purr of a cat can be beneficial to humans, and how dogs can teach children about love, care and loyalty. I’m also in awe of the hard work of bees and ants, and how butterflies can migrate for so many miles, whilst they are such delicate creatures.
It saddens me to hear of species becoming extinct or threatened, and to hear about how an increasing amount of nature is destroyed, putting even more species on the endangered list.
Not only is this destruction a danger to our planet, but also, I feel, to our spiritual wellbeing. I cannot imagine a world where I cannot go for a walk in nature. Nature fills me with awe, and leaves me refreshed and recharged. In addition, the writer in me often returns with inspiration, which is a great bonus!
Of course, this doesn’t mean I have to like wasps. But I guess I do respect them…
kittiara |
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| |  | Bent Trees (E)
Personal experience near woods: Cherokee Trail of Tears and the legend of their bent trees
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In this story of frustration and struggle nature can be a savior or the greatest enemy .
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The Spiritual Newsletter Team welcomes any and all feedback, questions, thoughts and suggestions, so please don't hesitate to contact us  .
~~~
THANKFUL SONALI Library Class!  - Hi!
Thank you for the newsletter on accepting those who are different, it's a very important subject.
My friend Diana does Christmas parties for economically deprived children and seniors, with and without challenges. Volunteering with her has given me an understanding of my own progress and shortcomings when it comes to accepting EVERYONE.
If you'd like to, do click on the link to see the photos taken by some of the volunteers. Thanks,
Sonali.
Hi Sonali! Thanks so much for your feedback, and for sharing your experiences. I took great joy in viewing the photos taken by the volunteers. I can imagine how wonderful and valuable your volunteering experiences are. Thanks for bringing smiles to peoples' lives!
By the way, I have excluded the link you provided, because I was uncertain if it was alright to share the photos with a wider audience. So please know this was done out of respect for you, the photographers and the people in the photographs.
~~~
captsecure - I have this motto, it works for me, but I always have this in my mind " learn something new every day" and apply your newfound into your lifestyles, and then say to your self will this work. or not.capt. terry
Thanks so much for your feedback! I sincerely agree with your motto, and sure hope to keep on learning!
~~~
Jaye P. Marshall  - Kittiara, I just wanted to compliment you on this week's editorial. It was great! I, too, am always "soul searching" for possible hidden prejudices.
Thank you so much for your kind words. I really appreciate them .
~~~
dkdoulos - Hi Kittiara,
Thanks for your honest words about how we perceive people who are different from ourselves. I've recently moved to a new city, and I'm on both sides of the fence. I'm meeting people for the first time, and people are meeting me. I wonder how they perceive me? I wonder if I'm correct in my first impressions? There was a time in my life when this kind of experience made me anxious. But now I have a greater sense of spirituality, and I'm able to look for the good in others.
Kelly
Hi Kelly, thanks so much for your feedback, and for sharing your experiences. I know that it can be quite difficult to move somewhere new, and to make new friends - a few years ago I moved to a different country. It can be scary, but I am glad that you are handling it so very well. I am certain that you will make friends in no time!
~~~
Alimohkon  - I really find it interesting that for this week's topic, we have persons with disability or pwd. You said you didn't have much experience with "blind" people. Indeed, they are not anymore called such, but we call them visually-challenged, or persons with disability.
As writers, we should know this. APA Style.org has its own rules when referring to persons with disability (Guidelines for Non-Handicapping Language in APA Journals). We have phrases and terms as persons with disability, or child with a congenital disability or child with a birth impairment, instead of defective child or mentally-ill person.
We ought to be learned when it comes to people like them because they are those whom Christ referred to as people near to God.
Erase the words "disabled" or "blind" or "lame", if we have to value them.
Thanks.
Alimohkon
Dear Alimohkon, my apologies if my editorial offended you! This was certainly not my intention.
The reason I referred to Mikey as blind, is because this is the way he refers to himself, and to people in the same situation as him. Another reason for using the word "blind" is because some visually impaired people are still partially-sighted. With Mikey, this is not the case.
Of course, I did do some research, and here in the United Kingdom it is correct to use the word blind - indeed, the government lists services and associations for "blind or visually impaired people". However, I do understand that W.Com is an international website and if I have been insensitive, I do again apologize.
As a disabled person myself, I know about prejudice. I will never call a person "lame" or "defective" or other such terms.
Again, my apologies for any offense caused. I will try to be more sensitive in the future.
~~~
Wishing you a happy and creative week,
The Spiritual Newsletter Team:
larryp, SophyBells  , kittiara
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