Saturday, September 26, 2009

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday September 27, 2009

Welcome to my Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday post. For over twenty-five years I have collected various spiritual and  inspirational quotes and messages. My hope is that when you read these, you will pause and reflect. Perhaps you will share this post with a friend who just so happens to be in need of reading what I am sharing today.

Throughout my life, I assume yours too, I have seen on the news on television, seen and read on the internet, read in a newspaper, heard on the radio, and in a few instances seen with my very own eyes, fellow human beings faced with catastrophic losses, overwhelming despair, extreme adversity, and horrific heartache. Yet, they persevere, are resilient, and show courage. What is it that keeps them going?  It is HOPE.

In my last post, you can see photos showing the devastation in Pass Christian, Mississippi caused by Hurricane Katrina. (Scroll down to see these photos) Imagine returning to your home and in some cases your home and place of employment and only finding the steps to what was once your home or only finding the slab on which your home or business was built. This was the norm for most residents of Pass Christian, Mississippi.

Corner of Cedar Street & Hwy 90 

^You can see the sidewalk that led to this residence which was destroyed by the powerful surge of water in Katrina.

And for some, not only did they lose their home and everything in it, but they may have lost family members and family pets. This is one of those few instances of fellow human beings faced with catastrophic losses, overwhelming despair, extreme adversity, and horrific heartache that I saw with my very own eyes and felt with my heart. Not only when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005 but also in 1969 when Hurricane Camille hit. (At a later date, I will do a post about being in my family’s home during Hurricane Camille with 200 mph winds!)

Initially, people are so overwhelmed by a catastrophic event that they are in shock and numb. Gradually, they begin to face reality. They begin to dig deep and they find HOPE. I remember in both Katrina and Camille seeing signs made out of battered boards leaned up against a tree or pile of debris that showed signs of HOPE.  Words such as:

We Shall Overcome!

We Will Be Back!

The Coast Will Rise Again!

We Will Prevail!

God Bless America!

We will rebuild!

Not only were these signs important to the person who made them but also for the community as well. As others drove by and read the sign, it gave them HOPE and HOPE became contagious. It was this feeling of HOPE that united the community and made them believe they would overcome.

I want to share some quotes on HOPE. No matter what situation you may face, choose HOPE!  Blessings.  …susan

HOPE

“Once you choose hope, anything’s possible”  Christopher Reeves

“A leader is a dealer in hope” Napoleon Bonaparte

“There are no hopeless situation; there are only men who have grown hopeless about them” Clare Boothe Luce

“When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you get involved you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better” Pauline R. Kezer

“When you say a situation or person is hopeless, you are slamming the door in the face of God” Charles L. Allen

“Hope is passion for what is possible” Soren Kierkegaard

“Hope is a waking dream” Aristotle

“If it were not for hopes the heart would break” Thomas Fuller

“But in the mud and scum of things       there alway, alway something sings”  Ralph Waldo Emerson                        

Common Hopeful Sayings

Hang in there, it will get better!

One step at a time!

One day at a time!

Take lemons and make lemonade!

Keep on keeping on!

Keep your head up!

Have a “Can Do” attitude!

Don’t give up!

You can do it!

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