sermon stuff

OK, I admit quoting Leo Buscaglia in a sermon but this fit so well. Leo, for those young'uns that have never heard of him was the reigning king of hug. very warm and fuzzy prof from USC (as I recall). If he were alive I think he'd blog.

I used his reading called "A Start" that I just love. To some it might be too schmaltzy but i think it is a very strong piece.

Each day, I promise myself not to try to solve all my life problems at once -- nor shall I expect you to do so;

Starting each day, I shall try to learn something new about me and about you and about the world I live in, so that I may continue to experience all things as if they had been newly born;

Starting each day, I shall remember to communicate my joy as well as my despair, so that we can know each other better;

Starting each day, I shall remind myself to really listen to you and to try to hear your point of view and to discover the least-threatening way of giving you mine, remembering that we are both growing and changing in a hundred different ways;

Starting each day, I shall remind myself that I am a human being and not demand perfection of you until I am perfect, so you're safe;

Starting each day, I shall try to be more aware of the beautiful things in our world -- I'll look at the flowers, I'll look at the birds, I'll look at the children, I'll feel the cool breezes, I'll eat good food -- and I'll share these things with you;

Starting each day, I shall remind myself to reach out and touch you, gently, with my words, my eyes and with my fingers, because I don't want to miss feeling you;

Starting each day, I shall dedicate myself again to the process of being a lover -- and then see what happens;

You know, I'm really convinced that if you were to define love, the only word big enough to engulf it all would be "Life" -- Love is life -- in all its aspects ... And if you miss love, you miss life!

Please don't!

I changed the end to read- if you were to define love, the only word big enough to ungulf it all would be GOD. God is love. And if you miss God, you miss love. Please don't.

(My apologies to Leo.)