Words from the Heart

  Last year my word for the year was "Dance." I didn't do much actual dancing but emotionally, spiritually and metaphysically, I was dancing around all the craziness of 2025. The last days of the year were a gentle slow waltz into a year of blessings. In 2026, I will be doing my best to bring blessings to all in everything I do. I will also practice accepting the blessings of others with grace and humility, remembering that receiving is as much of a blessing as giving.  May all who read these words find 2026 to be filled with the blessings of Peace, Hope, Joy, and most of all Love. Blessings!

Grandmother Moon on January 1, 2024, at 7:30 AM   Last year, my word was "reflect," which was very insightful. I did a great deal of reflection - about my life, the world, my beliefs, etc. I learned that I have very deeply rooted beliefs in justice, acceptance, and the Divine's love for all of us. I also learned that at times, I can be my own worst enemy because I let the monkey mind convince me that I am not able to do things. I am getting better at quieting this down.  This year, my word is "grounded." Like many of the words we have in the English language, grounded has multiple meanings. This adjective can mean that you are in a state of balance and harmony, or it can mean that you are incapable of movement, as in the pilot was grounded due to fog. Of course, I will be holding the first meaning in my consciousness as I travel this next voyage around the sun.  Being grounded, or as some call it "earthing," takes practice and work, as does most everyt...

A few weeks ago, I joined many of my friends as a septuagenarian.  I honestly find it difficult to believe that many years have come and gone, but I am ever grateful for being here! This year, my word for the year was reflect. There has been a lot to reflect on this year. In my reflections, I have had the opportunity to share with my oldest granddaughter some of the wisdom or life hacks that have come my way.  I thought I would share them with all of you, as well.  First and foremost – be true to yourself! Never let others talk you out of being YOU! Don’t give up on your dreams. You may not get there immediately, but you WILL get there if you keep focused on what they are.  Look both ways more than once before crossing the street, at stop signs, red lights, and railroad tracks. Never assume that the other people will stop. Try not to be reactionary. Think before you speak, make decisions, or act on something that is happening.  Make your bed every day....

By the authority vested in me as nobody in particular, but somebody special to many, I declare today to be Friend Remembrance Day! After hearing about the death of yet another friend, one I had lost touch with over the years, I thought I would create a space to remember those who left this time and space, especially for those who never got to say goodbye before they journeyed on beyond the stars. Dear Ones - know you are loved beyond measure and missed more than words can convey. Blessings!  

  I was prompted by this picture of my grandchildren enjoying the beach together, building childhood memories of peace-filled, joyous times of wonder and awe, to write the following poem to the leaders of world.  My grandmother's heart aches for my daughters and their spouses and all the young parents of this world as they navigate the days ahead.    Fear, at times like this, can eat away at the soul, which is why I was looking through photos the other day, coming upon the one above. Seeing the faces of loved ones, transporting my mind to happier times, allows me to keep fear at bay, which of course is something one must do to get through the days ahead.  May we all find a place of peace. May the leaders of this world soften their hearts, open their minds, and realize that, to survive, we must learn to live in peace. The Grandmothers’ Plea    To the men in suits,  leading nations of our children  and our children’s children:  Stop! ...

  When you teach English to adult immigrants and refugees, you quickly realize that we are all connected with the same hopes and desires regardless of culture, religion, race, or gender. When you hear about the joys of your students, you celebrate with them. Likewise, when you hear of their sadness, you mourn with them. My "heart is down and my soul is heavy" with all the pain and suffering in the world. I have dear students from all over the world with families suffering because of earthquakes, storms, fires, war, and madness.  I pray constantly that good will conquer evil. I preach the Golden Rule faithfully. I KNOW that Love IS the answer. I also know that fear feeds evil in a way akin to how steroids feed a body but make the mind mad.  As difficult as it is, we must continue to care for one another...to see the beauty inside each person we come in contact with during our days. We must not fall prey to hate. Like a vampire bite, hate produces more hate, and the cycle b...

  Last year, my word for the year was "visit."  Little did I know that 2020 was going to test my ability to re-imagine just what that meant! Shortly after the February first of 2020, I quarantined due to my age and the fact that both Roger and I have health issues that would be problematic if we were to contract COVID.   My last visit to anyone was with my daughters and grandchildren during February vacation.  The pictures I took then have kept me focused on the reason I am not traveling, not working outside the home and not meeting with people except outside and from a distance. For a people person, visiting with others is like air. We need it to live. So, I became adept at "visiting" via Zoom and talking to friends outside 6 feet or more away with masks on. I also found that visiting via snail mail was a joy I had almost forgotten. Letters to and from my grandchildren brought rays of sunshine for both Roger and I to bask in as the days got darker. In addition,...

      Heart Rock   Photo art: (c) 2020 LMRN   As we enter the 6th month of this pandemic, I have been pondering ways to help bring the world Light, Love and Peace. So much around us seems hell bent on destroying these qualities. Yet, as Fred Rogers reminded us , there are always those who do good - there are always helpers.    With that in mind, I thought of how, in my Catholic upbringing, we would do novenas whenever there was a special intention we hoped to have recognized on High. In the Catholic church, a novena is nine days of prayer, offerings, and/or rituals for a specific purpose.  (Novena comes from the Latin words for nine - "novem.")   As an interfaith minister, I spent the morning trying to think of how I could offer a novena that would appeal to people no matter their faith path. Then, as I sat looking out at the birds flying back and forth to the suet feeder, it came to me.     I will host nine days of beautiful p...

As part of my attempt to support local artists, I began interviewing some of my artist friends.  This is the latest of these interviews. INTERVIEW WITH REV. CYNTHIA McCARTHY: Minister and Artist   Linda:  Hi, Cynthia! I am so excited to share your multi-talents with my readers. To get us started, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?  Cynthia:  I’m an interfaith minister, guest speaker, and writer. I live in Rome, GA. I give talks and lectures based on new thought principles. (These days you can find me at CSL Midtown Atlanta the third Sunday of every month on their Facebook Live.)  I own a company called Spirit on the Spot, which makes products like magnets, keychains, tiles, original artwork, and pendant necklaces that affirm good things—it’s all based in the positive, new thought philosophy that God is good and our thoughts are things. We create our reality. It’s a ministry to uplift and inspire the world.  Linda: We fir...

Front door of a B and B in Ireland (c) 2014 Rev. Linda M. Rhinehart Neas What a surprise to have the random word picker give me the word "visit" for my 2020 word of the year just after I was thinking of our trip to Ireland back in 2014 and our dear friends who live there! Visit is something I enjoy doing. However, I have never really looked at the word - its meaning or origin. After all, it is one of those words that we use daily without thinking much about, right? First off, visit can be used as both a noun and a verb.  As a noun, it means: the act of visiting, or having a chat or talk.  As a verb, visit means: to go to and stay with (a person or family) or at (a place) for a short time for reasons of sociability, politeness, business, curiosity, etc.; to stay with as a guest; to make a visit; to talk or chat casually. The origins of the word are from the Latin " visitare " which means "to go to see."   As a teacher, minister and wri...