Light and Wood Monochrome – Copyright 2018 Frank J Casella. Sometimes, it is important to seek for grace though the darkness, before we can experience elegance from the Light.
The start of strife is like the opening of a dam; check a quarrel before it bursts forth!
A conflict resolver looks for a resolution instead of trying to win an argument.
Love means looking out for the other persons interest.
Unresolved conflicts stand as barriers to unity, whether it be friendships, co-workers, politics, or a marriage, etc.
If we don’t find a way to meet in the middle, we become enemies instead of teammates.
So, stop trying to win an argument, and start trying to understand each other.
Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but [also] everyone for those of others.
Free Bird and Sunset Clouds – A bird speeds through the cloudy sky at sunset, above the silhouetted trees, in Midwest America – Photograph Copyright 2021 Frank J Casella
Photo: Magnificence in the Sky – Square Color Landscape Art Photograph Copyright 2021 Frank J Casella – A magnificent cloud show illuminated by the sunrise, above the silhouetted trees. This image was softened a bit for presentation.
The more we hold on to, the less we give away.
The more we give away, the less we have to hold on to.
Letting go teaches us there is more to life, than just ourselves.
When we give ourselves away, it teaches us how to grow.
Photo: ‘Remember You Are Precious‘ – Copyright 2018 Frank J Casella – “ When you are feeling lonely, when you feel unwanted, when you feel sick and forgotten, remember you are precious to Him.” — Saint (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta
It is normal for all of us to feel lonely at times, and sometimes wonder if life is worth living. To lose site of our gifts and abilities, and purpose.
The good news is there is a cure for this. It is to use the gifts that we are given, to then give back to others. Gifts are meant to be shared.
When you reach out and give, always thinking of others before yourself, a tricky thing happens — that is LOVE – wanting the best for the other person without expecting anything in return.
Whether you are a good listener, a person who provides a service, in the military or first responder to provide for community or country, a parent or teacher to impact lives and minds, making crafts or cooking, touching or hugging, and the many other ways to make a positive difference in the world, you see your value when you thrive on giving.
Author Gary Chapman calls this The Five Love Languages – Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Gifts, Quality Time, Physical Touch – whether it’s in a friendship or marriage, work relationships, parenting, or in the community, the idea is to first know and share your love language, then learn to identify and meet others with their love language.
Many times we mostly feel alone when we have an unmet emotional need. When you go out and give to others, this is the best way to find your gifts, abilities, and purpose. …. The best way to find a friend is to be one.
Black Tulips In Black And White – Copyright 2021 Frank J Casella – Walking along the sidewalk in a neighborhood of the American Midwest, I found these unique tulips to be very intriguing. Standing tall all alone, as if they have most confidence.
Photo: ‘Color Birdbath with Flowers’ – Copyright 2019 Frank J Casella: A red and yellow bird bath with purple flowers. and peeling paint.
When I saw this birdbath today, I not only noticed the textures and colors, but also thought about how birds are in community. A birdbath is like the community swimming pool. If you will.
With social media relevant today, why does it seem so many people say they are lonely? It is because our bodies are designed to have interaction with each other, to laugh with and touch each other. The power if a smile is priceless. Yet, there is so much of our society that works towards individualism, pulling us apart.
For example at my church here in America are a number of interest groups, like for youth, or scripture study, or expectant mothers, yet when we worship it is everyone together in community.
If you are into newsletters and mailing lists like I am, you are aware that you can now segment your subscribers into category lists. However, with the mailing lists that I manage, I keep everyone together in community. So that means I have separate categories in one email, and everyone gets (sent) it, they just look at the sections of the newsletter that interests them.
I think that community is where we grow by learning from each other. When we share our differences with each other we learn more (or ask questions) about ourselves. So to pull this all together, the birdbath is a symbol of nature, that God created birds to bath themselves not only to be clean but to have community … there is much in nature us humans can learn from.
Photo: ‘Chicago City Fog’ – Square Color Photo Copyright 2016 Frank J Casella – Fog covers city skyscrapers down Michigan Avenue during the morning commute in Chicago Illinois.
When I look at all the people in the world, I not only see them as a person, but see the story of their lives.
Because it is about stories that make us the people who we are.
I believe that integrity is the main element that we measure each other.
Integrity n. Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code. n. The state of being unimpaired; soundness. n. The quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness.
*From The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
Integrity helps us to evaluate our own life, and get a better look at the impact that we are having on this world.
The more you are grateful for what you have, the more you will have to be grateful for.
Photo: ‘Searching for Dawn‘ Copyright 2016 Frank J Casella – The morning sun peeks through the trees behind a fence.
In the past year that the COVID pandemic has spread around the world, online conference video chats have become more the norm than the exception they were. And all of these platforms it seems have had to make improvements to their technology to meet the demand.
Yet, some of them have become more popular than others even though they may not be the best. For example, the first two on the scene years ago were FreeConferenceCall in 2001 and Skype in 2003, which I use more than the others. I usually can’t have a call without someone asking why we’re not on Zoom or Teams, etc.
I get it, the quality axiom is at work here: ‘Kleenex’ means tissues, ‘Weber’ means grills, ‘Google’ means search engine, and so on … so now does Zoom mean online video meeting? The other argument is to use the platform that everyone is familiar with so it is easier to use. The answer to this one is the more you use something, the more you become familiar with it.
The truth I see is that, in searching for the light, all of these platforms work the same and have similar issues, and the variables happen based on what equipment or internet connection you have. So you find two of them that best meet your needs and make it work for you.
Because, just like with soda pop I like ‘RC’, even though ‘Coke’ or ‘Pepsi’ are more popular doesn’t mean they are the best.
Sometimes photography will see elements in the sky that the human eye does not.
Sometimes reflections in the water see elements in the sky that photography does not.
Sometimes the silent moments help us to reflect life more clearly.
Many people tell me how much they are afraid of silence. I have been there too at times. We busy ourselves just to avoid the silence in our lives. Yet, silence is really the best use of our time.
It is where we find the answers to our problems, our dreams, our true needs, and ourselves. It could be ten minutes, or a few hours, but spending time in silent thought has shown our true selves come to the surface through all the noise, and help us to become our best self.
Yes, you sometimes have to work through the ugliness to see light, yet it is through our struggles that we become stronger in finding our true self. This is why I find scheduling in my calendar silent time each day can be best use of my time … and yours.
There is a common lesson to spend one hour a day in silence, for sixty days. Many people in the end find the results mind blowing … pun intended. Give it a try, one day at a time.
Don’t be afraid of silence. FEAR = False Evidence Appearing Real
A light snow at sunrise, illuminated by the late Autumn trees in the background. This moment in time is what I call God’s paint brush, to show us there are things in life that only He can do.
